McKay Tower Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids McKay Tower
McKay Tower in 2019.
General information
Type	Office
Location	146 Monroe Center NW Grand Rapids, Michigan United States
Completed	1927
Height
Antenna spire	259 ft (79 m)
Roof	227 ft (69 m)
Technical details
Floor count	18
Floor area	146,000 sq ft (13,600 m²)
Design and construction
Architect	Owen-Ames-Kimball Company

McKay Tower is a tall building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's located on Monroe Center. This building is used for many things, like apartments, offices, and shops. It also hosts special events. Right now, it's the fifth tallest building in Grand Rapids.

A Look Back at McKay Tower's History
Building Style: Architecture
Gallery
See also

A Look Back at McKay Tower's History

Early Days in Grand Rapids

The spot where McKay Tower stands today has a long history. In 1834, it was the site of the first marriage between non-Native Americans in Grand Rapids. This happened just a few years after settlers first came to the area. The wedding took place in a small cabin owned by Joel Guild, an early American pioneer. His daughter, Harriet Guild, married Barney Burton there.

The very first town meeting for Grand Rapids was also held in this cabin. Only nine people voted at that meeting.

Building the Tower: 20th Century

Later, in 1890, a building called the Wonderly Building was built on this same spot. The first two floors of what we now know as McKay Tower were built in 1915. At that time, the building was called the Grand Rapids National Bank.

More floors were added between 1921 and 1927, bringing the tower to its full height. In 1942, a businessman and politician from Grand Rapids named Frank D. McKay bought the tower. In the early 1940s, two more floors were added to the top for building equipment.

For many years, McKay Tower was the tallest building in Grand Rapids. It held this title from 1927 until 1983. That's when the Amway Grand tower was finished. McKay Tower was also the tallest office building in Grand Rapids until Bridgewater Place was built in 1993.

New Owners: 21st Century

In 2000, the University of Michigan sold the tower. They had received the building from Frank D. McKay's will. Later that year, Greystone Associates bought it.

In 2006, an internet businessman named Mark Roller bought the tower for $7.8 million. He later tried to sell it in 2009 for $11 million.

In May 2012, Jonathan L. Borisch bought McKay Tower for $10.5 million. He was the founder of Borisch Manufacturing Corp., which is now called Amphenol Borisch. He bought it through his company, Steadfast Property Holdings.

Then, in January 2020, two Native American tribes, the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan and the Huron Band of the Potawatomi, bought McKay Tower. They purchased it for $17.5 million from Steadfast Property Holdings.

Building Style: Architecture

McKay Tower is built in a style called Greek Revival. This means it looks like ancient Greek temples. The tower currently has a special three-story penthouse at the top and a metal dome.