Hotel America (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hotel America
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5 Constitution Ave., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1964 |
| Architect | Curtis & Davis |
| Architectural style | Mid-Century Modern |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000359 |
| Added to NRHP | September 7, 2012 |
The Hotel America is a historic building in Hartford, Connecticut. It's located at 5 Constitution Avenue on Constitution Plaza. Built in 1964, it was likely the first building in Connecticut to be part of a big city improvement plan. It's also a great example of early Modern architecture in the area. Today, it's called the Spectra Boutique Apartments. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
About the Hotel America Building
The former Hotel America building stands at the eastern end of Constitution Plaza. This plaza was a large building project from the 1960s. It helped to improve the east side of downtown Hartford. The building itself is twelve stories tall. It is made from strong materials like steel, concrete, and glass.
Building Design and Structure
The building faces mostly north and south. A cool fact about its design is how it crosses over Kinsey Street. It uses huge steel I-beam trusses to support itself over the road. These trusses were the largest ever made in Connecticut at the time.
History of the Building and Plaza
The Hartford Redevelopment Agency started in 1950. Their main goal was to improve parts of the city that needed help. Constitution Plaza was their very first big project. It was designed to make a run-down area on Hartford's east side much better.
The Hotel America building was designed by a famous company called Curtis & Davis. They were known for their modern building styles. The hotel was finished in 1964. Over the years, the hotel changed its name several times. It was known as a Sonesta Hotel and later as a Clarion Hotel. In 2011, the empty building was bought by developers. They turned it into fancy apartments.
