The 800 Apartments
| The 800 Apartments | |
|---|---|
Residential | |
| Architectural style | International Style[1] |
| Location | 800 South Fourth Street Louisville, Kentucky, 40201 |
| Coordinates | 38°14′37.85″N 85°45′32.77″W / 38.2438472°N 85.7591028°W |
| Construction started | 1961 |
| Completed | 1963–64 |
| Opened | 1963 |
| Renovated | 2015–16 |
| Cost | $6 million |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 331 ft (101 m)[2] |
| Roof | 290 ft (88 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 29 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | W. S. Arrasmith (Louisville) Loewenberg & Loewenberg (Chicago)[3][4] |
| Developer | F. W. "Fritz" Drybrough Sr.[5][6] |
The 800 Tower, formerly The 800 Apartments, is a 29-story residential skyscraper in Louisville, Kentucky, located in the city's SoBro neighborhood, nestled between Old Louisville and downtown.[7] At the time construction was complete in 1963, The 800 was the tallest building in Louisville,[8][5] a record it maintained for nearly a decade.[7][5]
The building hosts the radio transmitter for WXMA (formerly WLRS FM), which has its studio a few blocks away.[2]
History
Designed by architect William Strudwick Arrasmith of Louisville in consultation with Loewenberg & Loewenberg of Chicago, and developed by Frederick W. "Fritz" Drybrough Sr.,[3][4][5][6][9] construction on The 800 began in 1961 and completed 1963–64,[7][8][10] with construction costs totaling $6 million.[11] Already in January 1964, the building's developer and architects won the Honor Award "for superior design" from the Federal Housing Administration, the agency's first such award, which they gave to 28 out of 315 entries.[6]
On June 16, 2015, Michigan-based property management firm, Village Green announced the purchase of the 800 Building, and renamed it 800 Tower City Apartments, and began renovations expected to exceed $10 million, and take 18 months.[12]
Architectural features
The building, which has a continuous-pour reinforced concrete frame, has an aluminum curtain-wall system on its exterior with the color of the aluminum panels being a distinctive aqua, or turquoise, blue.[8][13] As a result, local residents sometimes refer to it as the "Turquoise Tower of Power" (or just "Turquoise Tower"), a nickname used by disc jockeys who have broadcast from the building.[7][additional citation(s) needed]
The building features an underground parking garage and four 29th floor penthouses along with an outdoor area on the roof. All rental units, except those on the 2nd floor, have outdoor balconies. The ground floor has in various years featured a restaurant from time to time, and in 2017, Bar Vetti, a new Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor patio seating opened.[14][15]
References
- newspaper.com.
- ^ a b "WXMA-FM 102.3 MHz - Louisville, KY". radio-locator.com.
- ^ newspapers.com.
- ^ OCLC 247857447. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0-9601072-3-1.
- ^ newspapers.com.
- ^ LEO Weekly. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ OCLC 247857447. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- newspapers.com.
- newspapers.com.
Workmen still are finishing the inside of the huge building. About 40 percent of the apartments now are occupied.
- The Courier-Journal. p. 82. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
- Louisville Business First. Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ Luhan, Gregory; Domer, Dennis; Mohoney, David (2004). The Louisville Guide. Princeton Architectural Press. p. 187. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
- Louisville Business First. Archivedfrom the original on September 9, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ "INSIDE LOOK: Step inside the new Bar Vetti restaurant". October 11, 2017.
External links
- Official website
- Tour the 800 Tower City Club, Photo Gallery — Courier Journal, October 4, 2018
- New management to take over 800 Tower City Apartments — Insider Louisville News, January 30, 2017
- Downtown Louisville's 800 Building gets new name as renovations ramp up — Louisville Business First, July 24, 2015