Robert F. Hastings

The First Federal Building in Detroit, designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls and completed in 1965. The former S. S. Kresge Corporation headquarters in Troy, completed in 1972. The AT&T Michigan Headquarters addition in Detroit, completed in 1974. Robert F. Hastings (1914–1973) was an American architect in practice in Detroit. He spent his entire career with Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, now SmithGroup, and was its president from 1960 to 1971 and chair from 1971 to 1973. He was president of the American Institute of Architects for the year 1971.

Life and career Robert Frank Hastings was born December 20, 1914, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to John Frank Hastings and Bernice (Stretch) Hastings. He enrolled in the University of Wisconsin before transferring to the University of Illinois, graduating in 1937 with a degree in architectural engineering. After graduating he joined the Detroit architectural firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. With the exception of two years during World War II when he worked as an airframe stress analyst, he spent his entire career with the firm.

Outside of his professional practice Hastings was deeply concerned with the decline of Detroit. As a director of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and New Detroit, Inc., Hastings worked to reverse the migration to the suburbs and to bring new investment into Detroit proper. His accomplishments in this area include the development of Philip A. Hart Plaza, designed by his office and completed in 1975, two years after his death. His efforts to revitalize Detroit was reflected in the operations of the firm itself. While many businesses, including architectural firms, were leaving the urban core, Hastings kept the firm in the city, completing a purpose–designed headquarters building, the Cass Building, at 455 West Fort Street in 1972.

Hastings was elected a Fellow in 1961 and after his presidency was elected to honorary membership in the College of Architects of Bolivia, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Society of Architects of Mexico and the College of Architects of Venezuela.

Architectural works Under Hastings' leadership, Smith, Hinchman & Grylls grew into one of the largest firms in the United States and completed many hundreds of buildings. Some projects where Hastings had a prominent role include:

General Motors Technical Center, GM Tech Center Rd, Warren, Michigan (1949–55, NRHP 2000, NHL 2014) Sperry–Farragut plant (former), Vance Tank Rd, Bristol, Tennessee (1954) First Federal Building, 1001 Woodward Ave, Detroit (1963–65, NRHP 2013) Belvidere Assembly Plant, 3000 W Chrysler Dr, Belvidere, Illinois (1964–65) Richard H. Austin Building, 430 W Allegan St, Lansing, Michigan (1968) G. Mennen Williams Building, 525 W Ottawa St, Lansing, Michigan (1968) Building 36 and Building 37, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (1969, demolished) University of Louisville Health Science Campus, Louisville, Kentucky (1970) Cass Building remodeling, 455 W Fort, Detroit (1972) S. S. Kresge Corporation headquarters, 3100 W Big Beaver Rd, Troy, Michigan (1972) AT&T Michigan Headquarters addition, 444 Michigan Ave, Detroit (1973–74)