909 Walnut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 909 Walnut |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Residential apartments |
| Location | 909 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri |
| Coordinates | 39°06′12″N 94°34′54″W / 39.103317°N 94.581776°W |
| Construction started | 1930 |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Cost | US$2.85 million |
| Owner | Simbol Commercial Inc |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 498 feet (152 m) |
| Roof | 471 feet (144 m) |
| Top floor | 465 feet (142 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 35 |
| Floor area | 477,649 sq ft (44,375.0 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Hoit, Price & Barnes |
| Developer | Fidelity National Bank & Trust |
| Main contractor | Swenson Construction Company |
909 Walnut is a very tall building in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri. It has two spires and 35 floors. The building is 471-foot (144 m) tall and is now used for apartments.
For a while, it was the tallest apartment building in Missouri. It is also one of the ten tallest buildings in the state. In 1997, it became a protected landmark when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
What Was 909 Walnut Before?
The building has had a few different names over the years. It was first called the Fidelity National Bank & Trust Building. People often just called it the Fidelity Building. Later, it became the Federal Office Building, and for a short time, it was known as 911 Walnut.
How Was the Building Constructed?
The building was finished in 1931. It cost about $2.85 million to build, which included all the bank's special equipment. Before this tall building, a two-story post office and federal building stood on the same spot until 1904.
The company that built the new skyscraper, Fidelity, bought the land for their main office. They tore down the old building in 1930. The new design had two spires, just like the old federal building. It was built in a cool style called Art Deco mixed with Gothic Revival.
Who Designed This Skyscraper?
The architects who designed 909 Walnut were Hoit, Price & Barnes. They also designed another famous building nearby, the Power and Light Building, which is also in the Art Deco style.
What Happened During the Great Depression?
The bank that owned the building had to close down in 1933. This happened during the Great Depression, a time when many businesses struggled.
When Did the Government Own It?
On June 14, 1946, the United States government bought the building for $3.3 million. This happened when Harry S. Truman was president. After the government bought it, the building was renamed the Federal Office Building.
Weather Service Headquarters
In 1954, an important weather office moved into the building. It was the Severe Local Storms Warning Service, part of the United States Weather Bureau. This office used to be in Washington, D.C..
A large dome, called a Radome, was built between the two spires. This dome held a weather radar and was a well-known sight in Kansas City. It stayed there until 1995. Then, the weather service moved to Norman, Oklahoma, where it became the Storm Prediction Center.
The Famous Town Clock
The north tower of the building once had a special "town clock." This clock had been keeping time since 1885, first in the old post office building. A bell, made in 1882, would chime.
The clock face has since been removed. Now, large windows are in its place, offering amazing views from the highest apartments. The bell was sold in 2000 and was even taken away by a helicopter!
What Is 909 Walnut Today?
When the government left the building in 1995, a company from Kansas City bought it for $500,000. The building was empty for a few years until 2000, when Simbol Commercial Inc. bought it for $2 million.
After the events of September 11, the building's name was changed from 911 Walnut to 909 Walnut. Simbol spent a lot of money, about $64 million, to turn this building and another one nearby into 159 apartments. They also created 110,000 square feet (10,000 m2) of office space and built a large parking garage for 323 cars. The top of the parking garage even has a beautiful 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) garden that has won awards!
Today, the first four floors of 909 Walnut are used by a company called Entertainment Properties Trust.
