kids encyclopedia robot

Park Tower (Tampa) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Park Tower
Park Tower - Tampa, Florida.jpg
Park Tower - Downtown Tampa, Florida 27°56′52″N 82°27′34″W / 27.947739°N 82.459342°W / 27.947739; -82.459342
General information
Type Office
Location 400 N Tampa Street
Tampa, FL 33602, United States
Completed 1973
Renovated 2018
Height
Roof 458 ft (140 m)
Technical details
Floor count 36
Floor area 472,460 sq ft (43,893 m2)
Designations LEED Gold, EPA Energy Star

Park Tower is a very tall building, also known as a skyscraper, located in downtown Tampa, Florida. It used to be called the Lykes Building. When it was finished in November 1973, it was the tallest building in all of Florida!

Park Tower was the first really tall building in Tampa. It stands about 460 feet high, which is like 36 stories tall. Today, it is the sixth-tallest building in Tampa. It was the tallest building in Tampa until another one, One Tampa City Center, was built in 1981.

Discovering Park Tower's Location and Features

Park Tower is right in the middle of downtown Tampa. It's located across from the Tampa Riverwalk and the Hillsborough River. You can also find it near cool places like Curtis Hixon Park, Gaslight Park, the Glazer Children's Museum, and the Tampa Museum of Art.

It's easy to walk from Park Tower to many other important spots. These include the Tampa Convention Center, the University of Tampa, and the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts.

Modern Updates and New Look

In 2016, some companies bought Park Tower. They spent a lot of money to make it look new and modern. The outside of the building was painted a lighter color. The main entrance was also updated to look more modern.

Inside, the lobby was made over with a fresh design. A coffee shop called Buddy Brew Coffee was added, which is a nice place for people to grab a drink. A famous architect company named Gensler helped design these updates.

Since the updates, many new businesses have moved into Park Tower. Some of these include CAPTRUST Advisors, Buddy Brew Coffee, and Continuity Logic. Big companies like BB&T and the United States Department of Justice also have offices there.

Eco-Friendly Building Features

Park Tower is a very eco-friendly building. It has a special certification called LEED EB Gold. This means it meets high standards for being good for the environment. It also has an EPA Energy Star certification, showing it uses energy wisely.

The building has many helpful things for people who work there. There's a FedEx Office and a U.S. Post Office. You can also find a BB&T Bank and Grow Financial Credit Union. For personal care, there's Pearl Salon.

If you get hungry, Nature's Table Café is there. The tower also has a fitness center and a conference room. On the sixth floor, there's a lounge where tenants can relax. A lobby concierge is available to help visitors.

Park Tower: A Hub for Technology

Park Tower is a very important place for phone and internet services in the region. It's known as a "Telco-Hotel." This means many major phone and internet companies have their main equipment here.

These companies include:

  • AT&T
  • Verizon Communications
  • CenturyLink
  • Charter Spectrum
  • Crown Castle
  • TW Telecom
  • Windstream Communications
  • Cogent Communications
  • FiberLight
  • Online Technology Exchange
  • Summit Broadband
  • Tampa Internet Exchange
  • WOW Business Services

Safety and Power Systems

The building has special power systems to keep everything running smoothly. It has two underground electrical lines from the power company. One of these lines comes from a high-priority medical power grid, which is very reliable.

Park Tower also has many different ways for fiber optic and other data cables to enter the building. This helps ensure internet and phone services are always available. There is even a large underground Federal Reserve Vault inside the building. For safety, there is 24/7 security with video monitoring.

History of Park Tower

When Park Tower was first built, it was home to The First National Bank of Tampa. Later, this bank became First Florida Corporation. The building was also the main office for the Lykes Brothers Corporation.

In 2006, a company from New York City bought the tower. They spent $27.4 million to make improvements. This included new elevators, updated air conditioning, and fixing much of the electrical system. Later, the building became the downtown Tampa headquarters for Colonial Bank, which is now BB&T. The BB&T sign is still visible at the top of the building today.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Park Tower (Tampa) para niños

kids search engine
Park Tower (Tampa) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.