Fenn Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fenn Tower |
|
---|---|
![]() Fenn Tower on Cleveland State's main campus
|
|
General information | |
Type | Student Housing |
Location | 1983 East 24th Street 2401 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio, USA |
Construction started | November 3, 1929 |
Completed | 1929 |
Opening | 1930 |
Cost | $1.5 million |
Owner | Cleveland State University |
Height | |
Roof | 81 m (266 ft) |
Top floor | 21 |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 22 |
Lifts/elevators | 5 |
Design and construction | |
Architect | George B. Post & Sons |
Main contractor | Thompson-Starrett Company |
National Town and Country Club
|
|
Location | 2401 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1930 |
Built by | Thompson-Starrett Co. |
Architect | George B. Post and Sons |
Architectural style | Art Deco |
NRHP reference No. | 03001102 |
Added to NRHP | October 30, 2003 |
Fenn Tower is a very tall building, known as a skyscraper, in Cleveland, Ohio. It has 22 floors and is owned by Cleveland State University. Today, it serves as a home for students attending the university.
This building was first built for a group called the National Town and Country Club. However, it was only used for one event before it had to close. It was originally called the National Town and Country Club building. Later, in 1937, Fenn College bought it for $250,000.
Fenn Tower is the second tallest building on the Cleveland State campus, right after Rhodes Tower. The tower is named after Sereno Peck Fenn, who helped start the Sherwin-Williams company. Fenn College was also named after him. Fenn Tower is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the National Town and Country Club.
Building History
Fenn College started in the 1930s by offering night classes, especially in engineering. Their goal was to provide affordable higher education. Dr. Cecil V. Thomas was the first president of Fenn College. He was a well-known educator in Ohio. In 1932, Fenn College added business classes to its programs.
The National Town and Country Club Building was meant to be a special club for people in Cleveland. They wanted a central place for meetings and events. But then, the stock market crashed in 1929. This big economic problem meant the club no longer had enough money to operate. So, the tall building stayed empty for a while.
Fenn College Takes Over
In 1937, Fenn College bought the building because they needed more space for their growing number of students. This was a big deal! Fenn College became only the third college in the United States to have a skyscraper on its campus. The other two were the University of Pittsburgh and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Having the building also gave Fenn College a great address on Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland.
In 1940, Fenn College became "accredited." This means it met high standards for education, which is important for colleges. Fenn College always managed its money well and never lost money until 1963. At that time, financial problems led it to join with the new public Cleveland State University.
See also
In Spanish: Fenn Tower para niños