Key Tower
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Key Tower (formerly known as Society Center) is a
skyscraper A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors. Most modern sources define skyscrapers as being at least or in height, though there is no universally accepted definition, other than being very tall high-rise bui ...
on
Public Square A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Relat ...
in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Designed by architect César Pelli, it is the tallest building in the state of Ohio, the 39th-tallest in the United States, and the 165th-tallest in the world. The building reaches 57 stories or to the top of its spire, and it is visible from up to away. The tower contains about 1.5 million square feet (139,355 m²) of office space. Key Tower's anchor tenant is KeyCorp, a major regional financial services firm. In 2014 the law firm of BakerHostetler announced that it would move its headquarters to the building, taking up several floors being vacated by KeyCorp. The international law firm Squire Patton Boggs is headquartered here and a major tenant. It is also headquarters to Dan T. Moore Companies, located on the 27th floor. Key Tower is connected to the Marriott at Key Center, built in conjunction with the tower, and the older Society for Savings Building. It was the tallest building between
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
and
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
until 2007, and is the tallest building in the Midwest United States outside of Chicago. In October 2008, Wells Real Estate Funds purchased Key Center, including Key Tower, Marriott at Key Center, Society for Savings Building, and the underground Memorial Plaza Garage. Key Tower was subsequently acquired by The Millennia Companies in 2017. The purchase price was $267.5 million.


History

It was originally built as the Society Center and was the headquarters for Cleveland-based Society Corporation. Society had recently acquired AmeriTrust and canceled AmeriTrust's plans for an even taller (61-story) building on Public Square. Its opening ended the Terminal Tower's 60-year reign as the tallest building in Ohio. It was renamed Key Tower after Society merged with KeyCorp and took the KeyCorp name. Indeed, it was decided to make Cleveland the headquarters for the new KeyCorp because it was felt the then-Society Center was more commensurate with the merged bank's status as a major bank. Pelli originally intended its design for the Norwest Center in
Minneapolis Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...
, but a late change to the site led to Pelli designing a new tower for it. Key Tower was developed by the Richard E. Jacobs Group. When Society Center was completed in 1991 by Turner Construction, it became the tallest building between
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
and
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. The Comcast Center in
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
assumed this distinction in 2007. The Chamber of Commerce Building stood on the tower's site from 1898 to 1955. ''F-111'', James Rosenquist's large pop art painting, hung in the tower's lobby until building owner Richard Jacobs sold it to the
Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street (Manhattan), 53rd Street between Fifth Avenue, Fifth and Sixth Avenues. MoMA's collection spans the late 19th century to the present, a ...
in 1996. He replaced it in 1998 with ''Songs for Sale'', a mural by artist David Salle. In October 2005, Key Bank installed four long illuminated logos at the base of the tower's crowning pyramid. Each sign weighs . A smaller-scale building was proposed by Pelli to be built in
Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
, during the late 1980s, but the plan was ultimately canceled.


See also

* List of tallest buildings by U.S. state * List of tallest buildings in Cleveland * List of tallest buildings in the United States


References


External links


Key Tower
on CTBUH Skyscraper Center
Images and architectural information
{{Tallest Buildings by U.S. state, state=autocollapse César Pelli buildings Skyscraper office buildings in Cleveland 1991 establishments in Ohio Office buildings completed in 1991 Downtown Cleveland