CLEVELAND | Terminal Tower | 708 FT / 216 M | 52 FLOORS | 1930

[MayDay]

Architects: Graham, Anderson, Probst and White

Built as part of the Van Sweringen brothers' Union Terminal station, it was the tallest building outside of New York City in the world until 1953 with the construction of the main building at Moscow State University. It remained the tallest in the United States (outside of NYC) until 1967, when the Prudential Center was built in Boston. The Terminal Tower is topped by a 70-foot flagpole which is NOT included in the 708' height. The original plans for the Union Terminal Station limited the tower to an 18-story building with a clock tower:

Image from clevelandmemory.org:


The bedrock under downtown Cleveland rests 250 feet below street level. Thus, the tower's caissons reach 250 feet below street level to connect the tower to bedrock. The related earthmoving required for the Union Terminal complex (Terminal Tower, Landmark Office Towers, Higbee store, hotel, Post Office, train station) was the second largest excavation in history after the Panama Canal:

Image from Cleveland State University's Cleveland Union Terminal Collection:


The Terminal Tower is currently undergoing a massive restoration project which involves recasting the decorative ornamentation in micro-cotta (more durable than the original terra cotta), and tuckpointing the entire facade. New lighting will also be part of the restoration, with LEDs replacing gel-lights. It has been speculated that the observation deck on the 42nd floor will be reopened once restoration is complete. The uppermost floors have been restored - photo by the pope:


Various photos of the Terminal Tower:






Images by Paul_In_Cleveland:




Images by ColDayMan:


Holiday lighting scheme:

[Buckeye Native 001]

A Cleveland icon

[jodelli]

Fascinating structure. I remember being on the beach at night on the Ontario side of the lake as a teen and seeing the glow of Cleveland on the horizon, hoping to somehow catch a glimpse of it, with binos of course.

Seemed logical at the time, as the Perry Monument was visible from the bluffs in Essex County with the naked eye.
Granted the Perry Monument was only half way across at Put-In-Bay, but it was only half the height as well.

Finally did see the Terminal Tower, but I had to go to Cleveland to do so.

[M II A II R II K]

Was about to say that, and not to mention it's a building and a half.

[MolsonExport]

A very grand old dame.

[M II A II R II K]

Hopefully no one gets the idea to hack on some futuristic extension to it one day. Although a skyscraper with an attachment to it is not unheard of.

[plinko]

Who's in YOUR top 5? This one is in mine! I adore this building.

[muppet]

Since I ever first laid eyes on this it was my favourite building in the world. My sister went to Cleveland, a place in America she'd never heard of but her friend lived in, and took a photo of it about 5 years ago. I did some research, its based on the medieval Seville Mosque-turned-Cathedral tower. IMO (but don't tell anyone), its an improvement. there I said it.

Its proportions are perfect, its decoration the prefect balance, foil and emphasis for the form itself. The scale is awesome.

[lakegz]

It's based on the Giralda, which so many people consider the most 'perfect' tower in the world.

From directly below, this tower closely resembles the Giralda but from any other perspective it claims a style all its own.

[Inkdaub]

I love this building. I caught the train underneath it and rode to the airport.

[Fabb]

I guess that Moscow's seven sisters were inspired by this building. Or is it a mere coincidence ?

[MayDay]

As lakegz mentioned, the form is ultimately derived from the Giralda - which can be said for Moscow's seven sisters, the NYC Municipal Building, etc.

[KevinFromTexas]

I'm always blown away by the beauty and massive size and considerable height of the Terminal Tower. The fact that this true American icon isn't in New York is even more amazing. It's really kind of unexpected. No other city, in the US anyway, has anything like it, except for New York of course. Even internationally nothing can touch it. The only ones I can think of is the State University building in Moscow, but Moscow is a huge city, many times bigger than Cleveland. So for Cleveland to have such a building really is amazing. How big was Cleveland when the Terminal Tower was built? I know the city lost some population as did many cities, but still.

New York, New York
Moscow, Russia
Cleveland, Ohio

[the pope]

that James Popp photo is really awesome.

[FerrariEnzo]

[DecoJim]

It is a beautiful tower. I went there several years ago and among other things went to the Terminal Shops mall in the complex.

While from today's viewpoint it is a very attractive historic structure, there have been times when particular styles have gone out of fashion. So I wonder if the Terminal Tower's style may have appeared even at is completion in 1930 to be a bit old-fashioned compared to the art deco towers recently built or under construction in New York, Chicago, and Detroit.

[MayDay]

^Absolutely. As you said, the preeminent style at the time was art deco, but the Van Sweringens chose a more "safe" neoclassical design which would have more widespread appeal.

[Jasoncw]

That's the first thing I thought, "1930?"

I would have preferred art deco, not that the building isn't good as-is.

[Aleks]

This is one of my favorite skyscrapers in the US and the world. I've always been inspired by it and it's just a building with a great design.

[austlar1]

It's a beauty for sure. Is there still a train station attached? Does the building attract office tenants? Has it been upgraded for current office needs? Is it destined to be hotel and condos? What's the skinny?