Starks Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Starks Building
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Starks Building from Muhammad Ali Boulevard
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | Daniel Burnham |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts Chicago School |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001508 |
| Added to NRHP | July 11, 1985 |
The Starks Building is a tall, historic building in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It has 14 stories and stands on Fourth Street. Built in 1913, it was designed by the famous Daniel Burnham firm. It's about 202 feet (62 meters) tall. This building was once the 11th largest office complex in Louisville.
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A Look at the Starks Building
The Starks Building was built in the Chicago School style. It also has fancy details from Beaux Arts design. One special thing about it is its cream-colored bricks. The building is decorated with classic designs. These include acanthus leaves, lion's heads, and urns.
How the Building Grew
When it was first built, the Starks Building looked like a "U" shape. In 1926, a new part was added. This made the building a full rectangle. It had a central space inside for sunlight. This area was like a courtyard. Until 1984, a clear roof covered this courtyard.
First City Parking Garage
In 1953, the building got an important update. A parking garage was added. This was the very first parking garage in Louisville! It has over 700 spaces. The garage is next to the main building. It faces Third Street.
What's Inside?
The Starks Building is used for many things. You can find shops, restaurants, and offices there. In the 1990s and 2000s, it was hard to find people to rent space. But things have gotten better since then.
Famous Businesses
Many well-known businesses have been in the Starks Building.
- The Colonnade Cafeteria was in the basement from 1926 to 2006.
- Seng Jewelers was another long-time tenant.
- Rodes Men's and Women's Clothing was founded by John Starks Rodes. He was the person who paid for the building. Rodes Clothing was there from 1914 until 2004.
Current Businesses
Today, the building has new tenants.
- Business First of Louisville is a news company.
- FoodCare is a new company that moved its main office to Louisville.
- Mediaura is a successful digital agency.
Building Ownership and History
The Starks family owned the building for many years. They sold it in the mid-1980s. After that, it changed owners a few times. In 2006, the Hertz Investment Group bought it.
A Historic Landmark
The Starks Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's an important historic site.
Connected to Fourth Street Live!
The building is connected to Fourth Street Live! by a skyway. Fourth Street Live! is a popular entertainment area. For a while, there were plans to expand Fourth Street Live! into the Starks Building's first floor. However, these plans were later stopped.
New Life for the Building
Since 2006, more and more businesses have moved into the Starks Building. By 2010, about 71 percent of the space was rented. New businesses have opened there. This includes an Eddie Merlot's restaurant. With this restaurant, all the street-level space is now rented out.
