Commercial Building (Dayton, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Commercial Building
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Looking up from the building's base
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 44 S. Ludlow St., Dayton, Ohio |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Peters, Burns, and Pretzinger |
| Architectural style | Neo-Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001477 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1982 |
The Commercial Building is a tall, historic building in downtown Dayton, Ohio, United States. It was built a long time ago, in the early 1900s. This building was very important for how the western part of downtown Dayton grew. It's also a great example of the work of a famous architect from Dayton. The building is near what used to be a very busy shopping area. Because of its history, it has been named a historic site.
Contents
What Does the Commercial Building Look Like?
The Commercial Building is made of brick with some stone parts. It stands ten stories tall, which means it's quite a bit taller than the buildings around it. The front of the building, which faces south, is split into three main sections called "bays." The side of the building that faces west has four bays.
One of the coolest parts of the building is its fancy main entrance. This entrance is a key part of its Neo-Renaissance style. This style tries to look like the beautiful buildings from the Renaissance period in Europe. The upper floors have many large windows, each with two panes of glass on top and two on the bottom. The building is located at the corner of Ludlow and Fourth Streets. It's connected to the Dayton Arcade, which was a very popular shopping and entertainment center in the early 1900s.
How Old Is the Commercial Building?
When the Commercial Building was finished in 1908, it was one of the most important buildings in Dayton's skyline. It was one of only five high-rise buildings in the whole city!
A very important person named Adam Schantz, Jr. had the building constructed. He was one of Dayton's top citizens at the time. He helped shape the city's skyline more than anyone else. He also encouraged a lot of building along Ludlow Street. Adam Schantz, Jr. led one of the biggest companies in Dayton. He was also responsible for creating the Schantz Park neighborhood in the nearby town of Oakwood.
Schantz chose a very skilled architect to design his new building. This architect was Albert Pretzinger. By the late 1900s, Albert Pretzinger was known as the most important architect who was born in Dayton and worked in the city's history.
The Building Today
In 1982, the Commercial Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places in the United States that are important for their history or design. The building's unique architecture helped it get on this list. But its strong connection to Adam Schantz, Jr. was also a big reason.
The Commercial Building is one of almost 150 places in Montgomery County that are on the National Register. Other nearby historic places include the old Dayton Daily News Building and the Dayton Arcade next door.
Even though these buildings are historic, keeping them in good shape can be a challenge. The Dayton Arcade has been empty for many years, and the Dayton Daily News Building was also left empty in 2007. The Commercial Building itself has needed a lot of care. However, there is good news! A group from Wisconsin has been working hard to fix up the Arcade Building. They hope to open it again and help make downtown Dayton a lively place once more. This gives hope for the Commercial Building too.
See also
- Learn more about the Commercial Building in Spanish: Commercial Building (Dayton) para niños
