Electric Tower
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General Electric Tower
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General Electric Tower, June 2009
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| Location | 535 Washington Street, Buffalo, New York 14203 |
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| Coordinates | 42°53′18.9594″N 78°52′18.8394″W / 42.888599833°N 78.871899833°WCoordinates: 42°53′18.9594″N 78°52′18.8394″W / 42.888599833°N 78.871899833°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | Esenwein & Johnson; E.B. Green and Sons |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP Reference # | 08000865 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 2008 |
Electric Tower (or General Electric Tower) is a historic office building and skyscraper located at the corner of Washington and Genesee Streets in Buffalo. It is the seventh tallest building in Buffalo. It stands 294 feet (89.6 m) and 13 stories tall and is in the Beaux-Arts Classical Revival style. It was designed by James A. Johnson and built in 1912. Additions were made in 1923 and 1928. Inspired by the electric tower at the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition, the white terra-cotta clad was originally built as the Niagara Mohawk Building and features an octagonal tower which steps back three times to terminate in a large lantern. It is also known as Iskalo Electric Tower.
The decorative symbols featuring aspects of electricity production are considered precursors to subsequent art deco design.
Like One M & T Plaza, the spire of the tower is illuminated with different holiday colors at night throughout the year. Both buildings are illuminated blue and gold for the Buffalo Sabres during the National Hockey League playoffs.
The Electric Tower hosts the annual Buffalo Ball Drop on New Year's Eve, the second largest in the nation. People from all around gather in Roosevelt Plaza to ring in and celebrate the New Year. The Buffalo Ball Drop is accompanied by live performances and a spectacular firework show.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September 2008.
Electric Tower from Genesee Street, August 2007
Electric Tower closeup, 2004
Electric Tower, Genesee Street Side, February 2012 (after 2011 renovations)
November 2010 (before 2011 renovations)
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