Toof Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Toof Building
|
|
Toof Building in 2008
|
|
 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 195 Madison Ave., Memphis, Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | G. M. Shaw |
| Architectural style | Chicago School |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004057 |
| Added to NRHP | August 26, 1982 |
The Toof Building is a historic building in Memphis, Tennessee. It's made of brick and has cool terra cotta decorations on the outside. It was built in a special style called the Chicago School. You can find it in downtown Memphis, right next to AutoZone Park, which is a baseball stadium.
A talented person named G. M. Shaw designed the building. It was built in 1913 for S. C. Toof & Co., which was the oldest printing company in Memphis. The building had six floors and lots of space for printing and offices.
For a while, the building was empty. But in 2014, it was turned into apartments called The Press Box Lofts. People started moving in that same year!
History of the Toof Building
The S. C. Toof & Co. printing business started way back in 1864. As the company grew, they needed a bigger place. So, they planned the Toof Building to be their new main office and printing spot in downtown Memphis.
The building was designed in a style called the Chicago School. This style used new building methods like steel frames and big glass windows. It focused on how useful the building would be, rather than adding lots of fancy decorations. The Toof Building was finished in 1913. S. C. Toof & Co. was the oldest printing company in Memphis. Even today, the company still exists as Toof Commercial Printing Co.
In 1982, the Toof Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building that should be protected because of its history.
Location and Special Features
The Toof Building is located right next to AutoZone Park. This is a minor league baseball stadium and the home of the Memphis Redbirds team. In the 1990s, there were ideas to create a baseball museum inside the empty Toof Building. However, the plans didn't work out because they couldn't get enough money.
In 2008, the building was still empty. But in August 2008, something exciting started happening! The side of the building facing AutoZone Park was prepared for a huge mural. This amazing artwork was finished in April 2009.
