The Capitol Center is a high-rise office building in downtown Salem, Oregon, United States. Finished in 1927, it was originally known as the First National Bank Building and owned by Salem businessman Thomas A. Livesley. The eleven story building was designed by architect Leigh L. Dougan and is the tallest office building in Salem. Located at State and Liberty streets it is part of Salem's downtown historic district and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as the Old First National Bank Building.
Thomas Livesley who had made his fortune in hops, hired Leigh L. Dougan to design a skyscraper to be built in Salem.[1][2][3] At the time, Livesley was the vice president of the Oregon Linen Mills, with Livesley financing the project.[4] Construction began in July 1926[2] by Hammond & Hammond Company.[3] Named the First National Bank Building, it opened at the beginning of 1927.[2] Livesley was the incorporator of the bank in 1923.[2]
When it opened the building was controversial with some describing it as unattractive while others calling it a monument.[2] Thomas Livesley died in 1947 and the building was then renamed in his honor as the Livesley Building,[5] and later changed to the Cascade Bank Building.[4] On October 9, 1986, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[6] The tower was renovated by then owners Morse Brothers, Inc. from 1987 to 1988 and then renamed to its current moniker of the Capitol Center.[2][5][7] They would sell the building for $3.1 million to the investor group Salem Gargoyle in January 1997.[2]
In April 2003, the building was purchased by Roger Yost for $4.65 million, after he had already purchased the nearby Reed Opera House.[8] Also known as the Capitol Tower, parts of the high-rise were remodeled by Yost, including the installation of new elevators and refurbishing the seventh floor.[7][9]
Detailsedit
Building from a distance
Located on State Street in downtown Salem,[10] the structure rises 151 feet (46 m) to the top of its parapet wall, and contains eleven floors.[5][11] Classified as the only high-rise building in Salem,[12] it is the third tallest building in the city after the Salem First United Methodist Church (188 feet tall) and the Oregon State Capitol (173 feet tall).[13] Capitol Center is 164 feet (50 m) tall as measured to the top of its tallest antenna.[13]
Constructed of a reinforced concrete frame, the exterior walls are lined with a Florentine sandstone that is light pink in color.[7][14] The exterior includes decorative gargoyles and heads at the top.[2][7] The fifth floor is considered historic and retains its original look, including doors made from mahogany.[7][11] There is a total of 49,700 square feet (4,620 m2) of usable floor space in the building.[15]
^Oregon Historic Photograph Collections: Capitol Center building in Salem, Oregon, 1991. Salem Public Library. Retrieved on April 23, 2008.
^ abCapitol Center Office Building Height Is Documented. SalemOregon. Retrieved on April 23, 2008.
^Salem: High-rise Buildings (all).[dead link] Emporis. Retrieved on April 23, 2008.
^ abThe Answer – Salem Oregon's Tallest Building. 2008-06-06 at the Wayback Machine SalemOregon. Retrieved on April 23, 2008.
^Salem's Capitol Center Celebrates 80th Birthday. Salem-News.com, November 11, 2007. Retrieved on April 23, 2008.
^Bender, Dan. Courthouse Square begins to take shape. Statesman Journal, July 4, 1999.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Capitol Center (Salem, Oregon).
(official website)
Salem Online History: Thomas A. Livesley
December 15, 2023
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The Capitol Center is a high rise office building in downtown Salem Oregon United States Finished in 1927 it was originally known as the First National Bank Building and owned by Salem businessman Thomas A Livesley The eleven story building was designed by architect Leigh L Dougan and is the tallest office building in Salem Located at State and Liberty streets it is part of Salem s downtown historic district and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as the Old First National Bank Building Old First National Bank BuildingU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtContributing propertyBuilding in 2017Show map of Salem ORShow map of OregonLocation388 State StreetSalem OregonCoordinates44 56 20 N 123 02 14 W 44 938856 N 123 037153 W 44 938856 123 037153Arealess than one acreBuilt1927ArchitectDougan Leigh L Hammond amp Hammond Co Part ofSalem Downtown State Street Commercial Street Historic District ID01001067 NRHP reference No 86002851 1 Added to NRHPOctober 9 1986 Contents 1 History 2 Details 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThomas Livesley who had made his fortune in hops hired Leigh L Dougan to design a skyscraper to be built in Salem 1 2 3 At the time Livesley was the vice president of the Oregon Linen Mills with Livesley financing the project 4 Construction began in July 1926 2 by Hammond amp Hammond Company 3 Named the First National Bank Building it opened at the beginning of 1927 2 Livesley was the incorporator of the bank in 1923 2 When it opened the building was controversial with some describing it as unattractive while others calling it a monument 2 Thomas Livesley died in 1947 and the building was then renamed in his honor as the Livesley Building 5 and later changed to the Cascade Bank Building 4 On October 9 1986 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places 6 The tower was renovated by then owners Morse Brothers Inc from 1987 to 1988 and then renamed to its current moniker of the Capitol Center 2 5 7 They would sell the building for 3 1 million to the investor group Salem Gargoyle in January 1997 2 In April 2003 the building was purchased by Roger Yost for 4 65 million after he had already purchased the nearby Reed Opera House 8 Also known as the Capitol Tower parts of the high rise were remodeled by Yost including the installation of new elevators and refurbishing the seventh floor 7 9 Details edit nbsp Building from a distance Located on State Street in downtown Salem 10 the structure rises 151 feet 46 m to the top of its parapet wall and contains eleven floors 5 11 Classified as the only high rise building in Salem 12 it is the third tallest building in the city after the Salem First United Methodist Church 188 feet tall and the Oregon State Capitol 173 feet tall 13 Capitol Center is 164 feet 50 m tall as measured to the top of its tallest antenna 13 Constructed of a reinforced concrete frame the exterior walls are lined with a Florentine sandstone that is light pink in color 7 14 The exterior includes decorative gargoyles and heads at the top 2 7 The fifth floor is considered historic and retains its original look including doors made from mahogany 7 11 There is a total of 49 700 square feet 4 620 m2 of usable floor space in the building 15 References edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b c d e f g h Martinis Cheryl Salem s tallest building changes hands The Oregonian January 23 1997 a b Marion County Oregon NationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces com Retrieved on April 23 2008 a b Capitol Center marks 80th birthday this week Statesman Journal November 13 2007 a b c Capital Center Emporis Retrieved on April 23 2008 Oregon National Register List Archived July 16 2006 at the Wayback Machine Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation Retrieved on April 23 2008 a b c d e Kim Eunice Landmark building s 80th birthday is reason to party Statesman Journal November 15 2007 Capitol Center purchased Statesman Journal April 28 2003 Cowan Ron Reed Opera house Statesman Journal April 2 2006 Oregon Historic Photograph Collections Capitol Center building in Salem Oregon 1991 Salem Public Library Retrieved on April 23 2008 a b Capitol Center Office Building Height Is Documented SalemOregon Retrieved on April 23 2008 Salem High rise Buildings all dead link Emporis Retrieved on April 23 2008 a b The Answer Salem Oregon s Tallest Building Archived 2008 06 06 at the Wayback Machine SalemOregon Retrieved on April 23 2008 Salem s Capitol Center Celebrates 80th Birthday Salem News com November 11 2007 Retrieved on April 23 2008 Bender Dan Courthouse Square begins to take shape Statesman Journal July 4 1999 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Capitol Center Salem Oregon Capitol Center official website Salem Online History Thomas A Livesley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Capitol Center Salem Oregon amp oldid 1185007629, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
