Completing construction in 1926 and named after the famous Book Brothers of Detroit, it was briefly the tallest building in Detroit until the Penobscot building in 1928. A taller building was planned, but the Great Depression cancelled those plans. This was Louis Kamper's first major commercial design. Washington Blvd was the most prized real estate in downtown Detroit, lined with high-end retail shops, restaurants, offices and hotels. Kamper was the architect of choice for the development goals and dreams of the Book Brothers: J. Burgess, Herbert, and Frank. 

It is very unique, almost awkward looking in the city's skyline as a rare breed of classical Renaissance-style architecture and skyscraper. It is one of the oldest surviving office buildings from the roaring twenties when Detroit was the epicenter of the amazing explosion of automotive innovation and financial success. 36 stories and 475 feet tall, its roof line is capped with a distinctive ornate copper cladded roof and limestone buttresses. Book Building is a 13-story connected building that lays south toward the Detroit River. The building housed offices, apartments, retail, and restaurants. The fortunes of the building changed in the mid 1960s as it did for the rest of the city. By the 1970s, white flight and suburban sprawl had stolen much of the city's population and office tenants. By 1993, the occupancy rate of the building had dropped by 50%. Things continued downward until in 2007 bankruptcy was declared for the property. 

Billionaire Dan Gilbert announced his buying of the property in August of 2015. From that point, planning began to restore the property and soon after work on the exterior envelope including the roof, windows, and masonry. After which the interior finish proceeded until completion in summer of 2023. The building has been on the The National Registry of Historic Places since 1982.