Plummer Building
Encyclopedia
The Plummer Building in Rochester
, Minnesota
is one of the many architecturally significant buildings on the Mayo Clinic
campus. This new "Mayo Clinic" building, opened in 1927, added much needed space to the ever expanding Mayo practice. The architect of record
is Ellerbe & Co.
It was the third building designed by the firm for the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic Buildings were listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1969, and the Plummer Building was further designated as U.S. National Historic Landmark
a week later, designated as Mayo Clinic Building.
The early design collaboration between Henry Stanley Plummer
and Franklin Ellerbe established the model for future generations of new clinic and hospital buildings. The new 1928 Mayo Clinic building was the physical manifestation of the early Mayo partners (Dr. Will and Charlie Mayo, Dr. Stinchfield, Dr. Graham, Dr. Judd, Dr. Henry Plummer, Dr. Millet, and Dr. Balfour) desire to create the first integrated private group practice.
When the building was complete it was the tallest in the state, until the construction of the Foshay Tower
in Minneapolis, and remained the tallest building in Rochester until 2001 when the nearby Gonda Building
was completed.
It is topped by a distinctive terra-cotta trimmed tower which contains a 56-bell carillon
. Songs are played from it several times a week, which can be heard throughout downtown. The tower is lit by floodlights every night, and it is a centerpiece of the city's skyline. Ray Corwin, of Ellerbe and Round, designed the buildings decorative elements. Ray Corwin also was responsible for the design of the decorative elements found in the Chateau Theatre
and Oakwood Cemetery gate.
The Plummer Building is among the more than 200 structures designed by the Ellerbe firm in Rochester. They are also the architect of record for other Mayo buildings including the 1914 "Red" Clinic building, the 1922 Mayo Institute for Experimental Medicine building, the 1954 Clinic building, and the 2002 Gonda Building, as well as the Rochester Methodist Hospital.
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
is one of the many architecturally significant buildings on the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
campus. This new "Mayo Clinic" building, opened in 1927, added much needed space to the ever expanding Mayo practice. The architect of record
Architect of record
Architect of record is the architect or architecture firm whose name appears on a building permit issued for a specific project on which that architect or firm performed services. Building permits are issued by a government agency with the authority in a certain jurisdiction to regulate building...
is Ellerbe & Co.
Ellerbe Becket
Ellerbe Becket, an AECOM Company, is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based architectural, engineering, interior design and construction firm – ranked as one of the world's largest architectural firms – and with offices in Dallas, TX, Kansas City, MO, San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, Dubai,...
It was the third building designed by the firm for the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic Buildings were listed on the U.S. 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 1969, and the Plummer Building was further designated as U.S. National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
a week later, designated as Mayo Clinic Building.
Henry Stanley Plummer
Henry Stanley Plummer, M.D. was a prominent internist and endocrinologist who, along with Drs. William Mayo, Charles Mayo, Stinchfield, E. Starr Judd, Christopher Graham, and Donald Balfour founded Mayo Clinic. Dr...
and Franklin Ellerbe established the model for future generations of new clinic and hospital buildings. The new 1928 Mayo Clinic building was the physical manifestation of the early Mayo partners (Dr. Will and Charlie Mayo, Dr. Stinchfield, Dr. Graham, Dr. Judd, Dr. Henry Plummer, Dr. Millet, and Dr. Balfour) desire to create the first integrated private group practice.
When the building was complete it was the tallest in the state, until the construction of the Foshay Tower
Foshay Tower
The Foshay Tower, now the W Minneapolis – The Foshay hotel, is a skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Modeled after the Washington Monument, the building was completed in 1929, months before the stock market crash in October of that year. It has 32 floors and stands high, plus an antenna mast...
in Minneapolis, and remained the tallest building in Rochester until 2001 when the nearby Gonda Building
Gonda Building
The Gonda Building is a medical building owned by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and designed by Ellerbe Becket Architects and Engineers.It rises 305 feet in 21 floors, and was completed in 2001....
was completed.
It is topped by a distinctive terra-cotta trimmed tower which contains a 56-bell carillon
Carillon
A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
. Songs are played from it several times a week, which can be heard throughout downtown. The tower is lit by floodlights every night, and it is a centerpiece of the city's skyline. Ray Corwin, of Ellerbe and Round, designed the buildings decorative elements. Ray Corwin also was responsible for the design of the decorative elements found in the Chateau Theatre
Chateau Theatre
The Chateau Theatre originally opened as a Vaudeville house in Rochester, Minnesota that opened in 1927 with an interior decorated as a medieval village. The theater was converted to a movie house eventually remodeled and reopened as a Barnes & Noble bookstore. The Chateau was originally opened on...
and Oakwood Cemetery gate.
The Plummer Building is among the more than 200 structures designed by the Ellerbe firm in Rochester. They are also the architect of record for other Mayo buildings including the 1914 "Red" Clinic building, the 1922 Mayo Institute for Experimental Medicine building, the 1954 Clinic building, and the 2002 Gonda Building, as well as the Rochester Methodist Hospital.