Nickels Arcade - Ann Arbor, Michigan
Posted by: 
GT.US
N 42° 16.712 W 083° 44.445
17T E 274001 N 4684339
The front of Nickels arcade faces State Street, and the back Maynard.
Waymark Code: WM87VF
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 02/16/2010
Views: 7
The State of Michigan Preservation website at (
visit link) tells us:
"Nickels Arcade is a 261-foot long gallery or arcade which links State Street on the east with Maynard Street on the west in Ann Arbor. The principal facade faces onto State St. and is set into a row of two-story late nineteenth century and early twentieth century commercial buildings. It faces the northwest corner of the University of Michigan Central Campus. The State St. facade is faced and detailed with architectural terra cotta of classical design and consists of giant three-story, three-bay open portico flanked by store/office blocks. On Maynard St. the arcade is flanked by twentieth century structures. This facade faces a modern apartment/shops/parking complex across the street to the west. The Maynard St. facade is similar to the State St. facade in design, though the primary material used here is yellow brick, with ornamental detailing of terra cotta. Also, the bays of the Maynard St. portico are filled in with glass panels and doors in aluminum frames, all of recent construction. The gallery itself is roofed with a gable skylight of metal-framed wire-glass panels.
The Nickels Arcade, constructed between 1915 and 1918, is unique to Ann Arbor as an example of the small commercial "arcade" or gallery. As such, and because of its excellent physical integrity, this classically detailed structure is an important part of Ann Arbor's architectural history. Nickels Arcade was also an important expansion of commercial development along State Street, adjacent to the University of Michigan Central Campus. The project was implemented by Tom E. Nickels. The Nickels family has long been associated with Ann Arbor's business history. "