Guest Writer: Jay Krammes
The Bank of Lansing Building, located at 101 North Washington Square in Downtown Lansing, was constructed in 1931–1932 and opened during the Great Depression. Built during a wave of early-1930s downtown commercial development, the building was part of broader construction activity in Lansing’s city center at the time. It joined other major financial buildings of the era, including the nearby Boji Tower (originally the Capital Bank Tower), as downtown Lansing’s skyline continued to take shape.
Designed by Lansing architects Lee Black and Kenneth C. Black, the structure was purpose-built for banking. It originally housed Bank of Lansing operations, with public banking functions on the main floor and office space on the upper levels. The building features interior and exterior detailing, including carved stone and cast bronze work by Detroit sculptor Ulysses Ricci, along with brass elements, decorative tilework, and iron grillwork in the banking room produced by Philadelphia artisan Samuel Yellin…