Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adam Clayton Powell Jr.State Office Building |
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(2013)
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Government Offices |
| Architectural style | Brutalism |
| Location | 163 West 125th Street, Manhattan, New York, U.S. 10027 |
| Coordinates | 40°48′33″N 73°56′51″W / 40.80923°N 73.94746°W |
| Construction started | 1967 |
| Completed | 1973 |
| Opening | 1974 |
| Renovated | 2014–2016 |
| Cost | $36 million (1974) |
| Owner | State of New York |
| Management | Office of General Services |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 19 |
| Floor area | 260,000 square feet (24,000 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 9 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Ifill Johnson Hanchard |
| Main contractor | Trans Urban Construction Co. Inc, and Lasker-Goldman Corporation |
| Awards and prizes | New York State Award for Excellence |
The Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building is a tall office building in Harlem, New York City. It has nineteen floors and is located on West 125th Street. This building is named after Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who was the first African-American person from New York to be elected to the U.S. Congress. An African-American architecture firm, Ifill Johnson Hanchard, designed it. The building looks like an African mask and is built in the Brutalist style. It is the tallest building in Harlem.
Contents
Building History
Planning the Building
The idea for this building came from Nelson Rockefeller, who was the Governor of New York State in 1966. He wanted to start new projects to help Harlem grow and become a "truly viable community." Construction began in 1967 when an old bank building was taken down to make space for it.
Construction and Protests
However, work on the building stopped in 1969. People protested because they were unhappy about who was working on the building and what it would be used for. By the middle of 1970, the issues were solved, and construction started again.
Completion and Renaming
The building was finished in 1973 and was first known as the Harlem State Office Building. Even though some people said it lacked basic things like a building manager, it became a special place. In 1978, it hosted Harlem's first giant Christmas tree.
In 1983, the building was renamed the "Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building." This honored the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a former U.S. Representative who had passed away in 1972. In 1994, there was a chance the building might close due to budget cuts, but it stayed open.
Community Views
Over the years, some people have criticized the building. They felt it "disfigured" the neighborhood and was an example of not-so-great government architecture. However, others saw it as important. They believed it helped the community focus its efforts on future development battles.
In 2006, the Harlem Community Development Corporation worked with the New York State Office of General Services. They suggested a new design for the African Square area around the building.
See also
In Spanish: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building para niños
