Hi everyone. I was recently asked by my family, as I am a second year architecture student, what the most important building in ohio was. Now.. this question took me a few minutes to think about, and the best answer I could give was 'uhhh.. i dunno!" haha

 

SO put some tuition money to a good cause and help me at least get a few opinions on what could be the most important building put up in the big O

 

and there could be some categories.. most recognized building, biggest breakthrough, etc etc.

 

Some ideas:

Terminal Tower

Serpent Mound

Union Terminal

Akron Art Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think a case could be made for the Zaha Hadid designed Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center.  The NYT called it the "most significant building to be built since the cold war" (or something like that...), it's the first art museum (maybe museum?) to be designed by a woman, and it is very striking inside and out. 

 

Other buildings that might have a case could be Union Terminal (Cincinnati), Terminal Tower (Cleveland), Levque Tower (Columbus), and the Carew Tower (Cincinnati).  While Serpant Mound is certainly historically significant, I don't think it is necessarily architecturally significant as mounds were fairly common for ancient peoples to build, and it was not a useable space.

In Cleveland:

Terminal Tower hands down

 

To add to the topic a little, some other architectural gems would include:

- the Arcade

- Rock and Roll HOF

- Peter B. Lewis Building

- Key Tower

- Soldiers and Sailors Monument

 

Moreland Courts!

This is a tough one. My concern with the Zaha Hadid is that the building is very young. We lack perspective on its place in architectural history.

 

 

Cleveland MOA

Severance Hall

Cleveland MOA

Severance Hall

 

These are significant, but I do not believe they would make the top 5 in Cleveland alone...unless you were just adding to my list..

In no particular order...

 

Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati)

Union Terminal (Cincinnati)

Roebling Suspension Bridge (Cincinnati)

Key Tower (Cleveland)

Levque Tower (Columbus)

I would not put key ahead of Terminal Tower for Cleveland.  Key Tower is an office building, that's it.  Terminal Tower is a beautiful designed building that all rail lines service, has a shopping mall inside of it along with several restaurants.  Architectually, the complex is amazing to me.

In no particular order...

 

Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati)

Union Terminal (Cincinnati)

Roebling Suspension Bridge (Cincinnati)

Key Tower (Cleveland)

Levque Tower (Columbus)

 

leaving terminal tower off this list is just silly.  at one point it was the tallest building in the world... then it was the tallest building outside of new york city for years... and then the tallest building not in New York or Chicago until sometime in the 1970's.  The details on the building inside and out are dumbfounding.  There are several in Ohio worthy of being on such a list.  Any list that doesn't at least include terminal tower (Cleveland Union Terminal) shouldn't exist.

In no particular order...

 

Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati)

Union Terminal (Cincinnati)

Roebling Suspension Bridge (Cincinnati)

Key Tower (Cleveland)

Levque Tower (Columbus)

 

leaving terminal tower off this list is just silly.  at one point it was the tallest building in the world... then it was the tallest building outside of new york city for years... and then the tallest building not in New York or Chicago until sometime in the 1970's.  The details on the building inside and out are dumbfounding.  There are several in Ohio worthy of being on such a list.  Any list that doesn't at least include terminal tower (Cleveland Union Terminal) shouldn't exist.

 

AMEN!  Preach!!!

I'm not sayin... I'm just sayin...

"at one point it was the tallest building in the world... then it was the tallest building outside of new york city for years... and then the tallest building not in New York or Chicago until sometime in the 1970's."

 

Nope. It was never the tallest in the world (Woolworth - 792 feet, 1910-1913) . It was the tallest outside of NYC from 1930 until Moscow State University's main tower unseated Terminal's global spot in 1953. Prudential Center in Boston unseated it nationally in 1967.

 

"at one point it was the tallest building in the world... then it was the tallest building outside of new york city for years... and then the tallest building not in New York or Chicago until sometime in the 1970's."

 

Nope. It was never the tallest in the world. It was the tallest outside of NYC from 1930 until Moscow State University's main tower unseated Terminal's global spot in 1953. Prudential Center in Boston unseated it nationally in 1967.

 

 

sorry when i got to the new york / chicago part I was referring to nationally, I just obviously didn't specify.  Regardless... when talking "historically significant architecture in Ohio" you can NOT have a list that doesn't include the Cleveland Union Terminal

Not that I think it is the most significant, but I'll throw Cincinnati Music Hall on the list.

this is an interesting question, so I thought I would Google it. Right off the bat, this came up (on the Ohio Historical Center website, of course--not that I agree. Then again wasn't the "brutalist" school in vogue back then?):

 

"The Ohio Historical Center, headquarters of the Ohio Historical Society, is a great example of the architectural style known as “Brutalism,” a rational, structuralist, monumental style exported by French and British architects in the mid-20th century. Upon its opening in 1970, the American Institute of Architects applauded the Ohio Historical Center as a “bold, imaginative, almost startling structure.” Architectural Record called it the “the most architecturally significant public structure built in Ohio since the State Capitol Building.”

 

Great thread topic!  I'd go with the following...

 

Terminal Tower (Cleveland)

Union Terminal (Cincinnati)

LeVeque Tower (Columbus)

 

And for those who want something built more recently, I'd go to the sports section for the following...

 

Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati)

Jacobs Field/Progressive Field (Cleveland)

Nationwide Arena (Columbus)

 

As for including any newer critically acclaimed works of architecture, such as Zaha's Contemporary Arts Center or Coop's Akron Art Museum, you might want to hold off for a few years.  Remember back in the 90's when Eisenmann's Wexner Center and Columbus Convention Center were the critical flavors of the moment?  A cutting-edge building can quickly go from fashionable to dated.

 

 

^That's a good one!

 

I'll vote for the Roebling Bridge!!

 

Without it, we would not have the Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate, Akashi Kaiko, or many others.

I'll vote for the Roebling Bridge!!

 

Not a building and not in Ohio. ;)

Alright fine!    My vote goes with Cincy's Union Terminal without pride or prejudice. :wink:

 

Beautiful art-deco!

How about the "Horseshoe" in Columbus built 1922?  At least the clear choice for #1 sporting venue architecturally...or am I stretching it??

 

 

^^That is the sweetest looking McDonalds ever!

^^ The Horseshoe was once OK, but it is horrible now at least architecturally. Never was very "pretty".

View from an outsider....I work at an international architecture firm in Chicago, and quite a few of the architects and the partners have traveled to Cincinnati to see the Zaha Hadid CAC.  As far as nationally noteworthy architecture, that one seems to have the most attention and recognition right now among the field.  It has a "must see" buzz about it.

Other than the aforementioned; you either love it or hate it but architecturally significant nonetheless.

 

http://weatherhead.case.edu/about/facilities/lewis/#

 

Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati)

 

REALLY?!?! (Where's the vomit emoticon?)

Im gonna go with (Just my Cleveland list)

 

1. Tower City

2. The Case Peter B Lewis Building

 

On Google (Birds Eye View) The building looks interesting from above.. The rest of the area looks amazing though throught University Circle.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=case+peter+b&sll=41.511036,-81.501067&sspn=0.011649,0.019226&ie=UTF8&ll=41.510098,-81.607706&spn=0.001456,0.002403&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.509765,-81.607599&panoid=4bBFPx4EDV1ctRuUWTO9BQ

 

3. Key Tower

4. Arcade

5. Rock n Roll HOF

 

Some not too sure about

-Cleveland Grays Armory

-Cleveland Museum of Art

-Cleveland Playhouse

 

ok..In addition, to Moreland Courts  :roll: I'd like to add the following:

 

the Rotunda

The Civic on Mayfield and Lee

In no particular order...

 

Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati)

Union Terminal (Cincinnati)

Roebling Suspension Bridge (Cincinnati)

Key Tower (Cleveland)

Levque Tower (Columbus)

 

leaving terminal tower off this list is just silly.  at one point it was the tallest building in the world... then it was the tallest building outside of new york city for years... and then the tallest building not in New York or Chicago until sometime in the 1970's.  The details on the building inside and out are dumbfounding.  There are several in Ohio worthy of being on such a list.  Any list that doesn't at least include terminal tower (Cleveland Union Terminal) shouldn't exist.

 

AMEN!  Preach!!!

 

Sorry, I just didn't feel like listing any more.  Off with my head.

Some not too sure about

-Cleveland Museum of Art

 

Yeah.. this isn't beautiful at all

 

^Being the most architecturally significant does not mean the most beautiful.  I think in terms of strict architectural significance in Ohio, you have 4 buildings:

 

1) Terminal Tower: Significant because it combines transit, office space, retail space, a hotel, etc. It is one of those quintescential multi use complexes along with Rockefeller Center and the Carew Tower. Plus, its height is very impressive and significant.

 

2) The Carew Tower: Significant for many of the same reasons as the aforementioned Terminal Tower.  Plus, it is one of the finest examples of Art Decco architecture in the county (interior at least).

 

3) Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center: Almost always found in those modern architecture books.  Definitely has a huge buzz around it (had a professor at USC who came to Cincy from LA to see it alone...), is unique (unlike the Gehry's that exist in Cincy and Cleveland), and is historic due to the fact that it is Hadid's first North American work, first Art Musesum designed by a woman, etc.  Only thing is that not enough time has passed to see if this building will remain significant (my guess is that it will)

 

4) Cincinnati Union Terminal: It is the largest half dome in the world (correct me here if that's wrong...), very impressive display of Art Deco, the Murals inside are unique and iconic.  Also the history surrounding the transit, and now the conversion to the museum complex is significant.  The fact that it still has functions as a very busy rail yard is fairly significant, too.

 

Any of these buildings would be a fine choice for Ohio's most architecturally significant building.  Nationwide Arena, Paul Brown Stadium, Playhouse Square, and Key Tower, while all nice buildings, and perhaps impressive buildings, are not very significant.

Whats the point in comparing skyscrapers, bridges, and smaller buildings together? Union Terminal is an amazing buiding, inside and out. Love those mosaics.

^ bah.

 

now 'this' is a mosaic  :wink:

 

*bonus points if you can guess the city  :laugh:

^I'll guess Canton.  Thats the weirdest looking brick road ever! 

 

I'll also add to the mix the largest building in the world without internal supports-- the Goodyear Air Dock now called the Lockheed airdock?  He didn't say how the architecture had to be significant..

Folks, are we forgetting the significance of the Ingalls Building (Cincinnati) and even the Central Trust Building (by Ohio's own?).  Hell, even the Ohio Statehouse (love it or hate it, it's significant)?  Also, throwing in the ring is the Judicial Center (Columbus) and Cleveland's Rock Hall.

 

Carew, Terminal Tower, & Union Terminal are all no-brainers.  Ohio Stadium, I'm tempted to add in there though much of the architecture was stripped or covered-up.

Define "significant." Is it the most beautiful? Most distinctive/recognizable? Most influential? All of the above.

 

I like the Old Arcade because it is one of the two grandest and most significant specimens in the world of glass-roofed arcades. It also reflects Cleveland's heritage of great bridges because the the structure holding up the glass was done by a bridge builder. Still, I don't know it I can call it the state's most siginificant building. What is? Tough call to make.

^agreed. In my mind, Wade Chapel in the Lakeview Cemetery is an incredible work that is beautifully unique in Ohio. While the outside is very nice by itself, all of the interior wall space consists of handmade mosaic glass by Tiffany. Insurance companies refuse to insure the building because you can not put a dollar amount on it. It is such a gorgeous piece of art-itecture.

Wow! im very happy with all the responses! glad my mum asked me this question! ha. so here are some of my thoughts...

 

I think first we need to define the question in general.. significance vs beauty vs recognition vs craziest (basket building ha)

 

so from now on if your gonna make a list of 5 or so.. make sure you determine if your ranking them in a category.. or just best buildings.

 

 

Union Terminal Tower Cleveland - Easily the mainstay building of the cleveland skyline.. this building is incredible. Significant in so many ways, statistically, it was a real monument to its time. regonizable, beautiful, and very significant. Its a beautiful building, but is it great architecture? I give credit where credit is due, however my biggest problem with it is that the food court area and shops have lost a lot of flair. though.. thats not much of a big problem because it is still a beautiful and lively public place every day.

 

Akron Art Museum - Im surprised no one commented on this one.. however I think it competes well with the CAC and puts the cleveland art museum expansion to absolute shame (sorry, breuer, its not your fault). As Coop-himmelblau's first american building (of 2 so far..more in the works i think) it really spatially defined the old art museum sort of.. spilling its energy and excitement all over and into the akron streets. If you ask me, its a better building than the CAC, however it lacks the people and energy of the CAC.. and my rankings show that. beautiful logo, too btw.

 

The CAC - Nestled beautifully right across the street from Cadillac Ranch (the container of one gorgeous bathroom), the CAC truly projects urban fabric. I have explored this space a few times and found it to be nothing but impressive. This building is absolutely timeless. I have seen a lot of energy there and i can really see this center growing its collection to world-class level. An incredible accomplishment.

 

Carew Tower - I can not imagine another view as golden as the one from the top of this tower. I could literally be up there for a few hours. Smaller and not as record-breaking as its cleveland counterpart.. it adds its own pluses to the mix with beautiful art-deco design and city-leading height. However its insides and overall impressiveness (yeah i make up lotsa words) were simply just o.k.

 

Rock Hall - Energetic, fun, and gorgeous.. this building defines the lake erie coast. I find it to be a great structure, however it seems to have more hype and prominence for being the rock hall, then for being a building.

 

Severance Hall - In every way, if you ask me, could be the most beautiful classical building in the state. As far as vanity, it excels, but unfortunately doesnt hit hard with the press as far as significance.

 

Blossom - Consider it top-notch.

 

Serpent Mound - O.k. Well here I am to make my case! Lets see.. I simply think it could be Ohios defining building. Rather than something that comes from a world society, it comes from history here and people here. While not exactly a masterful spatial building, it is a space of inclosure (plus the pyramids are pretty significant, yeah?). Plus, you can't deny the symbolism in the snake-and-egg.

 

Basket Building - Thank God no one mentioned it.. but ive read it on a lot of "buildings in ohio" things.. and i hate that its in there.

 

Ohio Historical Building - I think this thing is cool. But to tell you the truth I haven't been inside or up close. I believe it to be a great building, but significant? no.

 

 

Sorry for the slight cleveland prejudice, as I can only comment on the buildings that i have spent time in.

 

1. Terminal Tower

2. CAC

3. Rock Hall

4. Serpent Mound

5. Akron Art Museum

 

Folks, are we forgetting the significance of the Ingalls Building (Cincinnati) and even the Central Trust Building (by Ohio's own?).

 

Good call ... especially, Ingalls.

I think first we need to define the question in general.. significance vs beauty vs recognition vs craziest (basket building ha)

 

Aye, that question needs to be better defined.  To me, "most architecturally significant" means that the building should have had the greatest impact on the design of subsequent significant buildings.  As a Clevelander*, I loves me some Terminal Tower, but there aren't that many Beaux Arts high rise buildings.

 

So, I think that I'd vote for the Carew Tower**, especially with regard to its influence on the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center.  If the Roebling Bridge were a building, I'd vote for that instead.

 

 

*(maybe folks could be challenged to highlight buildings that are in cities other than their own)

 

**(see Design and Civic Identity in Cincinnati's Carew Tower Complex)

I think first we need to define the question in general.. significance vs beauty vs recognition vs craziest (basket building ha)

 

Aye, that question needs to be better defined.  To me, "most architecturally significant" means that the building should have had the greatest impact on the design of subsequent significant buildings.  As a Clevelander*, I loves me some Terminal Tower, but there aren't that many Beaux Arts high rise buildings.

 

So, I think that I'd vote for the Carew Tower**, especially with regard to its influence on the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center.  If the Roebling Bridge were a building, I'd vote for that instead.

 

 

*(maybe folks could be challenged to highlight buildings that are in cities other than their own)

 

**(see Design and Civic Identity in Cincinnati's Carew Tower Complex)

 

Does it have to be a high rise or a skyscrapper.  It's not clear, which is why I nominated my apartment building.

No, nobody said that it needed to be a high rise or a skyscraper.  I'm probably asking for a heap of trouble here, but exactly how would Moreland Courts be considered the "most architecturally significant building in Ohio"?  Certainly it is beautiful and well-built, but I'm not sure how well it is recognized, nor what directly-attributable influence it has had on subsequent buildings.

 

And, I'm saying this as a former Shaker Square resident.  Heck, Shaker Square was what got me interested in urban planning as a profession.

No, nobody said that it needed to be a high rise or a skyscraper.  I'm probably asking for a heap of trouble here, but exactly how would Moreland Courts be considered the "most architecturally significant building in Ohio"?  Certainly it is beautiful and well-built, but I'm not sure how well it is recognized, nor what directly-attributable influence it has had on subsequent buildings.

 

And, I'm saying this as a former Shaker Square resident.  Heck, Shaker Square was what got me interested in urban planning as a profession.

 

Well the building itself is and the way it was built is unique to Ohio.  I wouldn't call it the most but one of the most architecturally significant buildings.  The fact that its 12 condo buildings made to look like on continous building is shear genius considering two developers/builders produced it.

^I'll guess Canton.  Thats the weirdest looking brick road ever! 

 

 

nah, not canton, but good guess. hint: it's the pope's favorite ohio city.

well ok, maybe it's not really all that significant.  :laugh:

It's the smart-growth community of Stryker!

correct! it's chock full 'o classic & classy construction.  :laugh:

 

 

Hello.

 

Are you looking for a camper to rent?

 

 

 

Twin Acres Camper Rentals in Stryker, Ohio, has Motor Homes and Travel Trailers ready to go -- on vacation, a weekend away, a week at the fair, an extra room for guests...

 

419-682-1711

 

June to August: M-F, 5 to 9; Sat. 9 to 1

                      or by appointment.

After Labor Day, call for an appointment.