100 North Main facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 100 North Main |
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100 North Main
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | International style |
| Location | 100 North Main Street Memphis, Tennessee |
| Completed | 1965 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 430 ft (130 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 37 |
| Floor area | 436,272 square feet (40,500 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Robert Lee Hall |
| Main contractor | Southern Builders, Inc of Tennessee |
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One Hundred North Main Building
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| NRHP reference No. | 15000187 |
| Added to NRHP | April 24, 2015 |
100 North Main is the tallest building in Memphis, Tennessee. It stands 430 feet (131 meters) tall and has 37 floors. This building is located near Adams Avenue, North Second Street, and North Main.
Right now, the building is empty and closed to everyone. There have been many plans to fix it up and turn it into a hotel or apartments, but these plans have not worked out. Since late 2015, the building has been declared unsafe by the Shelby County Environmental Court. This happened because pieces of concrete were falling from its outside walls. Also, the elevators did not work, and the fire safety systems were broken. In 2015, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of 100 North Main
Building a Landmark
100 North Main was finished in 1965. Since then, it has been a key part of the Memphis riverfront skyline. The building was designed by Robert Lee Hall. He also designed other important buildings in Memphis, like Clark Tower and Patterson Hall at the University of Memphis.
Interestingly, 100 North Main looks very similar to another building. It is an almost identical, but taller, version of the 633 Building in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Who Used the Building?
Because 100 North Main is close to many government buildings, it was a popular place for certain businesses. Many lawyers, title companies, and other professionals who worked with government and court matters had offices there.
Changes Over Time
In 2006, the building was put up for sale. It was getting older, and there wasn't much demand for office space in downtown Memphis. This caused the value of office buildings to go down. By January 2012, only about 30% of the building was being used. In August 2013, it sold for a much lower price than before.
In February 2014, the new owners shared exciting plans. They wanted to change the building into apartments and a hotel. This project was expected to cost a lot of money. Construction started in June 2014, after all the businesses moved out.
However, as of May 2016, the building is still empty and has fences around it. It was declared unsafe in late 2015 because of falling concrete, broken elevators, and non-working fire safety systems.
On January 8, 2018, the current owner, Townhouse Management Co., announced new plans. They wanted to turn the building into a large 550-room Loews Hotel with 220 apartment units. The developer also planned to build a new 34-story office tower next door.
Unique Features of the Building
The UP Bank Sign
For many years, 100 North Main had a big, bright "UP Bank" sign on top. You could see this sign from miles away. The sign was taken down in late 2005. This happened because Union Planters National Bank was bought by Regions Bank. By April 2007, the sign had not been replaced. The top of the tower looked like an empty blue box, making the building seem abandoned. Many people in Memphis thought 100 North Main was the main office for Union Planters because of the sign. But the bank's actual headquarters were at different locations.
A Restaurant with a View
The building was built with a special revolving restaurant on its roof. This restaurant had different owners and names over the years, like Top of the 100 Club and Pinnacle. But now, it is empty. Behind the restaurant, there was once a Japanese garden. This garden closed in 1971. Today, only a few large stones and a concrete path are left from the garden.
What's at the Bottom?
The lower part of the tower is a large parking garage with many levels. There are also some shops and businesses that you can enter from the street.
Architectural Thoughts
In their 1986 book, Memphis: An Architectural Guide, authors Eugene J. Johnson and Robert D. Russell, Jr. described 100 North Main. They called it "one of the least interesting" buildings in downtown Memphis.
See also
In Spanish: 100 North Main para niños
