Please join us Thursday, Dec. 6 for an evening celebrating the life and architecture of Albert Kahn. We’ll enjoy a tour of one of Kahn’s buildings, the Bethel Community Transformation Center in Detroit followed by a lecture and slide presentation by Columbia alum Michael H. Hodges, the Detroit News fine arts writer. Hodges, who has his master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, is author of the new book “Building the Modern World: Albert Kahn in Detroit” (Wayne State University Press).

We’ll learn about Kahn's visionary creation of the humane “daylight factories” that helped birth both modern manufacturing and modern architecture;  his vigorous defense of Diego Rivera’s “Detroit Industry” murals when they came under attack; and the considerable role Kahn played in helping the Soviets beat the Nazis in 1941-42.

Bethel Community Transformation Center is currently being restored as community event and interfaith center. Formerly Temple Beth El, it was the home of Detroit's first Jewish congregation (founded in the 1850s in another location) in 1922-73. It’s now on the National Register of Historic Places.

COST: $5 per person.

WHEN: 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday Dec. 6, 2018.

EVENT SCHEDULE: Gather between 6-6:30 so we can start the tour of the sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. followed by the lecture/slide presentation in the first floor conference room at 7 p.m. Q&A will follow. The evening will wrap up at 8:30 p.m. Light refreshments are included.

WHERE: 8801 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan 48202 (between the New Center area and Boston Edison neighborhood). The building has its own parking lot. (313) 818-3259, bctcdetroit.org.

PARKING: Please use the parking lot connected to the building which is fenced (please do not to leave valuables in plain sight).

*PHOTO of the sanctuary: From Curbed Detroit.