WJBK began as an AM radio station (now
WLQV) in Detroit. In 1947 the station's television license was awarded by the
Federal Communications Commission to George B. Storer's Fort Industry Broadcasting, the forerunner to
Storer Communications.
WJBK-TV began broadcasting on Channel 2 in Detroit on October 24, 1948 as a CBS affiliate. It was the third television station to go on the air in Detroit. The station began broadcasting from the
Detroit Masonic Temple, but in 1956 Storer commissioned John L. Volk to design this studio. Storer and Volk were friends, and Storer had already commissioned a long string of works from Volk. The building was constructed that year, and WJBK moved its operations here. Multiple shows were produced by Storer in the building, including its newscast,
Sagebush Shorty, and
Sir Graves Ghastly. However, by 1971, WJBK had outgrown the studio and operations were moved to a newer building on Nine Mile Road in
Southfield. The Detroit building was sold to Detroit's public television station
WTVS, Channel 56, for $750,000. WTVS used it until 2009, when they sold it to
Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. Mosaic used the building until 2014, when it was sold to a developer. ==Description==