One Landmark Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids One Landmark Square |
|
|---|---|
One Landmark Square in Stamford, Connecticut
|
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neo-Futurism |
| Location | 1 Landmark Square Stamford, Connecticut |
| Coordinates | 41°03′17″N 73°32′17″W / 41.054700°N 73.538015°W |
| Construction started | 1970 |
| Completed | 1973 |
| Cost | US$35,000,000 (equivalent to $230,727,136 in 2022) |
| Owner | SL Green Realty |
| Height | |
| Roof | 295 ft (90 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 22 |
| Floor area | 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 7 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Victor H. Bisharat |
| Developer | F. D. Rich Company |
| References | |
| https://www.emporis.com/buildings/129193/one-landmark-square-stamford-ct-usa | |
One Landmark Square, also known as Landmark Tower, is a very tall building in Stamford, Connecticut. It has 22 floors and stands 295 feet (90 meters) high. For many years, from 1970 to 1990, it was the tallest building on the coast between New York City and Boston! Today, it is the third tallest building in Stamford and the tallest office tower there.
One Landmark Square was designed by an architect named Victor Hanna Bisharat. He designed many other buildings in Downtown Stamford during a time when the city was being rebuilt and updated in the 1970s and 1980s. Bisharat designed the building to look unique, with a curved shape and special entrances. Some people have compared its look to famous buildings like the TWA Flight Center and the Cathedral of Brasília.
History of Landmark Tower
Planning and Building the Tower
In 1960, a company called F. D. Rich Company took charge of a big project to rebuild downtown Stamford. This project was planned to cost over $250 million. The idea was to build many office buildings, homes, and a fancy hotel. Landmark Tower was meant to be the most important building in this huge 118-acre area.
The architect, Victor Bisharat, showed his design for Landmark Tower to Robert Rich, who owned F. D. Rich Company. Robert Rich liked the design right away.
Delays and Construction
Building the tower faced some problems. There were lawsuits against the city because people felt they were not given proper new homes after their old ones were taken for the project. This caused an 8-year delay for many of Rich's downtown projects, including Landmark Tower.
Because of these delays, the Rich Company built some of Bisharat's other buildings first. Finally, construction on Landmark Tower began in 1970, almost 10 years after the project was first approved. It took three years to build, finishing in 1973.
Early Features and Growth
In the 1970s, Landmark Tower had some cool features. There was a large ice-skating rink nearby and a fancy restaurant called the "Landmark Club" at the top. It even had art from the Whitney Museum of American Art! Five other buildings were built around Landmark Tower between the mid-1970s and early 1980s, creating the Landmark Square complex.
Challenges and New Ownership
By the mid-1980s, the Rich Company faced tough times because of an economic slowdown. Many companies were merging or moving, and people were losing jobs. The Rich Company had built too many buildings, and they lost a lot of money. Eventually, banks took over many of their properties, including Landmark Tower. The entire Landmark Square complex was sold to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1991.
Landmark Tower Today
Holiday Fun: Heights & Lights
Since 1992, Stamford Downtown has hosted a special holiday event called "Heights & Lights." A very exciting part of this event is when Santa Claus rappels (slides down a rope) from the top of the 22-story Landmark Tower! The event also includes lighting a holiday tree, live music, and fireworks. Famous people like Brian Cashman (from the New York Yankees) and Bobby Valentine (a baseball player and manager) have even been the rappelling Santas!
Renovations and New Life
In 1996, a company called Reckson Associates Realty bought the whole Landmark Square complex, including the tower, for $77 million. Over the next few years, Reckson spent another $50 million to make the complex modern again. They replaced hundreds of windows with energy-saving glass, updated the lobbies, restrooms, and elevators, and added new plants to the outdoor areas. They also built a cafe and a gym inside the complex. Later, in 2006, another company called SL Green Realty bought Reckson.
New Shops and Restaurants
In 2005, the area where the ice rink used to be was changed to make it easier for people to walk around and to add new shops. A new building with shops and restaurants was finished in 2006. Today, you can find places like HSBC Bank and Blackstones Steakhouse there.
Since 2017, the City of Stamford has even featured Landmark Tower in its official logo!
Major Tenants
Current Companies in the Tower
- Centerplate
- Everest Reinsurance Group
- Tokio Millennium Re.
- Epstein, Becker & Green
- Reckson/SLGreen Realty
Former Companies in the Tower
- Diageo North America
- AON
- Heineken USA
- McKinsey & Company
- Touche Ross Inc.
- Environics
- Fox Rothschild
- Fleet National Bank
Images for kids
-
Official logo for the City of Stamford featuring Landmark Tower, and One Stamford Forum
