Panethos18 Cities with uninspired tallest buildings
Listed below are 18 American cities whose tallest buildings are less than inspiring nor particularly appealing visually. In many cases it appears that function (or budgetary considerations) overruled form as the lack of of panache, style, adornments, and interesting architectural features have made these buildings rather bland. It seems to this author that if you are going to the effort to construct the tallest building in a city, it ought to have some personality and visual appeal that enhances pride in the community.
When comparing the Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, Ohio to its surrounding counterparts, it is quite apparent that the Rhodes Tower is boxy and lacks charm. This is especially evident when viewing it in comparison to the city’s prior tallest building, the stunningly gorgeous LeVeque Tower.
Rhodes Tower – Source: en.wikipedia.org LeVeque Tower – Source: sah-archipedia.orgWhat may be the most disappointing is the example from Charleston, South Carolina. This is not because the building is worse than the others, but due to the fact that it seems out-of-sync with the historic colonial integrity of that charming city.
Sixteen of the 19 towers (there is one tie) identified below were built between the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s. That may say something about the styles employed during that two-decade period or that budgetary considerations outweighed style. Hopefully, if and when some of these towers are refurbished, the work can include adding some features that make them visually more appealing.
Peace!
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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
100 N. Main (1965): Memphis, TN – Source en.wikipedia.orgCOLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
Capitol Center (1987) : Columbia, SC – Source: en.wikipeidia.orgMACON, GEORGIA
Fickling & Co. Building (1969): Macon, GA – Source en.wikipedia.orgGARY, INDIANA
504 Broadway (1927): Gary, IN – Source: skyscrapercenter.comRIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA
Mount Rubidoux Manor (1971): Riverside, CA – Source: skydb.netBAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
Stockdale Tower (1982): Bakersfield, CA – skydb.netODESSA, TEXAS
Prosperity Bank (1952): Odessa, TX – Source: newsflare.comNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
Hancock Whitney Center (1972) – New Orleans, LA – Source: en.wikipedia.orgNEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA
River Park Tower (1986): Newport News, VA – Source: skydb.netSPOKANE, WASHINGTON
BoA Financial Center (1981) – Spokane, WA – Source: en.wikipedia.orgCOLUMBUS, OHIO
Rhodes State Office Tower (1973): Columbus, OH – Source: en.wikipedia.orgWAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS
Hotel Waukegan (1927): Waukegan, IL – Source: en.wikipedia.orgMUNCIE, INDIANA
Teacher’s College Building (1968): Muncie, IN – Source: skydb.comLAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA
Chase Tower (1975): Lafayette, LA – Source: chasetowerlafayeette.comFALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS
Riverview Tower (1973): Fall River, MA – Source: google.gemini.ai and heraldnews.comHARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
333 Market (1978): Harrisburg, PA – Source skydb.comCHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Dockside Condominiums (1978): Charleston, SC – Source: skydb,comKANSAS CITY, KANSAS (two tied for the tallest building)
Wyandotte Towers (1973) -Kansas City, KS – Source: skydb.com Vista Condominiums (1969) – Kansas City, KS – Source: skydb.comTRENTON, NEW JERSEY
1 Kingsbury Square (1972): Trenton, NJ – Source: skyscrapercenter.com#Bakersfield #beauty #buildings #Charleston #cities #Columbia #columbus #design #FallRiver #Gary #Harrisburg #KansasCity #Lafayette #landUse #Macon #Memphis #Muncie #NewOrleans #NewportNews #Odessa #panache #planning #Riverside #skylines #skyscrapers #Spokane #style #towers #Trenton #Waukegan
