55 Public Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 55 Public Square |
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55 Public Square
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | office |
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Coordinates | 41°30′01″N 81°41′46″W / 41.500263°N 81.696039°W |
| Estimated completion | 1958 |
| Owner | Optima International LLC. |
| Height | |
| Top floor | 300 feet (91 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 22 |
| Floor area | 430,000 square feet (40,000 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Carson Lundin & Shaw |
| Main contractor | George A. Fuller & Co. New York City |
55 Public Square is a tall, 22-story building in Cleveland, Ohio. It used to be called the Illuminating Building because the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company was its main tenant. This skyscraper stands at 55 Public Square, which is the main town square in Downtown Cleveland.
The building was designed by Carson Lundin & Shaw Architects. It is 300 feet (91 meters) tall and was finished in 1958. This made it the first new skyscraper built in Cleveland since the Terminal Tower complex was completed in 1930. It was also the first tall building in Cleveland built in the International Style. Plus, it was the first tall building in the city to use a reinforced concrete frame. Today, the consulate general of Slovenia is located in the building.
Contents
Building Design and History
Like many other modern office towers built around the same time, 55 Public Square is set back from the street. This creates a small open area for people to walk. There is also a small restaurant building at one end of this space.
Building Materials and Cost
The building was first planned to use a steel frame. However, there was not enough steel available. So, the top 12 floors were built using reinforced concrete instead. A seven-story parking garage is connected to the building on its north side. The building cost $17 million to build.
Owners of 55 Public Square
The first owners of 55 Public Square were Vincent Astor and the Brooks-Harvey Co. from New York City. Later, in 2003, Willett Properties LLC. bought the building. In 2008, Optima International LLC, a real estate company, bought it for $34 million. In 2018, The K&D Group, another property company, became the owner.
Similarities to Lever House
55 Public Square looks a lot like New York City's Lever House. Both buildings have a similar curtain wall design. A main difference is their size: Lever House has 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) of space, while 55 Public Square has 430,000 square feet (40,000 m2).
Historical Site and Events
The building stands on a very important historical spot. In 1879, Charles F. Brush set up the world's first electric street light here. A copy of this old lamp still hangs outside the restaurant.
Previous Buildings on the Site
Before 55 Public Square, two different Cuyahoga County courthouses stood on this site.
- The third courthouse was built in 1860.
- It was replaced by the fourth courthouse in 1875.
- This fourth courthouse was later replaced by the current Cuyahoga County Courthouse in 1912.
- The fourth courthouse was torn down in 1931 to make space for a parking lot.
Building Fire in 2005
In 2005, a small fire happened on the 18th floor of the building. The Cleveland Fire Department said it was caused by office equipment that got too hot. Firefighters quickly put out the fire. Only a window pane and some smoke-damaged panels were affected. The office was later fixed up and cleaned.
New Tenants and Changes
In 2013, First National Bank of Pennsylvania moved its Parkview Federal branch into the building. They added new signs and updated the "55" on the building.
John Q's Steakhouse
From 1959 to 2013, a popular restaurant called John Q's Steakhouse was located just outside the building. It had outdoor seating in the plaza during summer. The restaurant was well-liked by local people and even celebrities for many years. It is currently empty.
See also
In Spanish: 55 Public Square para niños
