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Capitol Center (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
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.
, hired Leigh L. Dougan to design a skyscraper
to be built in Salem. At the time, Livesley was the vice president of the Oregon Linen Mills, with Livesley financing the project. Construction began in July 1926 by Hammond & Hammond Company. Named the First National Bank Building, it opened at the beginning of 1927. Livesley was the incorporator of the bank in 1923.
When it opened the building was controversial with some describing it as unattractive while others calling it a monument. Thomas Livesley died in 1947 and the building was then renamed in his honor as the Livesley Building, and later changed to the Cascade Bank Building. On October 9, 1986, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. 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. They would sell the building for $3.1 million to the investor group Salem Gargoyle in January 1997.
In April 2003, the building was purchased by Roger Yost for $4.65 million, after he had already purchased the nearby Reed Opera House. 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.
wall, and contains eleven floors. Classified as the only high-rise building in Salem, 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). Capitol Center is 164 feet (50 m) tall as measured to the top of its tallest antenna.
Constructed of a reinforced concrete frame, the exterior walls are lined with a Florentine sandstone
that is light pink in color. The exterior includes decorative gargoyles and heads at the top. The fifth floor is considered historic and retains it original look, including doors made from mahogany. There is a total of 49700 square feet (4,617.3 m²) of usable floor space in the building.
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Finished in 1927, it was originally known as the First National Bank Building and owned by Salem businessman Thomas A. Livesley
Thomas A. Livesley
Thomas A. Livesley was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A successful hop farmer and broker, Livesley was known as the "Hop King" of Oregon. Livesley served as mayor of Salem and as a state representative.He was the original builder and owner of what is still...
. 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
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1986 as the Old First National Bank Building.
History
Thomas Livesley who had made his fortune in hopsHops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
, hired Leigh L. Dougan to design a skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
to be built in Salem. At the time, Livesley was the vice president of the Oregon Linen Mills, with Livesley financing the project. Construction began in July 1926 by Hammond & Hammond Company. Named the First National Bank Building, it opened at the beginning of 1927. Livesley was the incorporator of the bank in 1923.
When it opened the building was controversial with some describing it as unattractive while others calling it a monument. Thomas Livesley died in 1947 and the building was then renamed in his honor as the Livesley Building, and later changed to the Cascade Bank Building. On October 9, 1986, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. 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. They would sell the building for $3.1 million to the investor group Salem Gargoyle in January 1997.
In April 2003, the building was purchased by Roger Yost for $4.65 million, after he had already purchased the nearby Reed Opera House. 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.
Details
Located on State Street in downtown Salem, the structure rises 151 feet (46 m) to the top of its parapetParapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
wall, and contains eleven floors. Classified as the only high-rise building in Salem, it is the third tallest building in the city after the Salem First United Methodist Church
Salem First United Methodist Church
Salem First United Methodist Church is a Methodist congregation and historic church in Salem, Oregon, United States. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places under its original name, First Methodist Episcopal Church of Salem, in 1983...
(188 feet tall) and the Oregon State Capitol
Oregon State Capitol
The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capital, Salem. The current building, constructed from 1936 to 1938, and expanded in 1977, is the third...
(173 feet tall). Capitol Center is 164 feet (50 m) tall as measured to the top of its tallest antenna.
Constructed of a reinforced concrete frame, the exterior walls are lined with a Florentine sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
that is light pink in color. The exterior includes decorative gargoyles and heads at the top. The fifth floor is considered historic and retains it original look, including doors made from mahogany. There is a total of 49700 square feet (4,617.3 m²) of usable floor space in the building.
External links
- Capitol Center (official website)
- Salem Online History: Thomas A. Livesley