Keeler Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Keeler Building
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| Location | 56 N Division Ave., Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Built | 1911 |
| Built by | Owen Ames & Kimball |
| Architect | Eugene Osgood |
| Architectural style | Chicago school |
| MPS | Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites in Michigan TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004806 |
| Added to NRHP | November 27, 2017 |
The Keeler Building is an old building in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It used to be a place where furniture companies showed off their new designs. In 2017, it was added to a special list called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important buildings. The building was later planned to become apartments.
Contents
Building History
Early Days as a Furniture Showroom
In the early 1900s, the people who started Keeler Brass decided to build a big showroom. This was so local furniture makers in Grand Rapids could display their furniture. They hired an architect named Eugene Osgood to design it. A company called Owen Ames & Kimball built it.
Construction finished in 1911. The building was made even bigger in 1913. Many famous furniture companies used to rent space here. These included Baker Furniture Company, Herman Miller Inc., and Kindel Furniture Company.
Changes Over Time
In 1941, the Keeler Building changed from a furniture showroom to office spaces. Companies like Michigan Bell Telephone, Western Union, and radio station WLAV rented offices there.
The building was sold in 1958. It changed owners several times before 1980. Then, a company called Amway bought it. Amway planned to move its staff into the building. However, they ended up selling it in 1984.
By this time, the building was almost empty. It was sold again in 1995. The new owners asked the last few tenants to leave. The Keeler Building stayed empty for many years.
New Life for the Building
In 2017, plans began to turn the building into apartments. This was a big change for the old structure.
The Keeler Building was first suggested for the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. But the owner at the time did not agree to it. It was finally added to the list in 2017, after the ownership changed.
Building Design
The Keeler Building is seven stories tall. It is made of brick and built in a style called Chicago school. This style often uses steel frames and large windows. The main parts of the building are made of steel and concrete. Inside, the building has a huge amount of space, about 140,000 square feet.
