Superman Building
| 111 Westminster Street | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Former names | Industrial Trust Tower, Fleet Bank Building, Bank of America Building |
| Alternative names | Superman Building, Industrial Trust Building |
| General information | |
| Status | vacant |
| Location | Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
| Address | 111 Westminster Street |
| Coordinates | 41°49′28″N 71°24′39″W / 41.824553°N 71.410696°WCoordinates: 41°49′28″N 71°24′39″W / 41.824553°N 71.410696°W |
| Construction started | 1925 |
| Completed | 1928 |
| Owner | High Rock Development |
| Height | |
| Roof | 428 ft (130 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Limestone |
| Floor count | 26 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Walker & Gillette, George Frederick Hall |
| Developer | Industrial Trust Company |
111 Westminster Street (formerly the Bank of America Building, officially known as the Industrial National Bank Building, and commonly referred to as the Superman Building) is the tallest building in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, the tallest in the state of Rhode Island, and the 28th tallest in New England. Standing at 428 feet (130 m) with 26 floors, the building occupies a footprint on the eastern periphery of Kennedy Plaza.
Before the current building was erected, the site was location of the six story Butler Exchange building. Located at 55 Exchange Place and constructed in 1872, the land was purportedly deeded by the heirs of the original Samuel Butler. The 1872 building housed the Rhode Island Commercial School which was purchased and merged into Bryant & Stratton College in 1916, the forebear of modern-day Bryant University. As well as, many retail businesses such as Dodge and Camfield (importers and grocers) on street level, and Waite Auto Supply Company. The Providence Ladies' Sanitary Gymnasium was also a tenant. That building was demolished in 1925, after a devastating fire, to make way for a new tower.
Commissioned in 1925 by the Industrial Trust Company (founded in 1886 by Samuel P. Colt), the current building was constructed and opened during the inter-war boom period as the Industrial Trust Tower in 1927. Designed in the Art Deco style popular at the time, the building opened for tenants on October 1, 1928.
Its name became the Fleet Bank Tower in 1982 when Industrial Trust changed its name to Fleet Financial Group in 1982. It would remain Fleet's headquarters until Fleet merged with Shawmut National Bank in 1995 and moved to Boston.
In 1998, then FleetBoston Financial, (then the current owner) was acquired by Bank of America; and the building became known as the Bank of America Building. In 2008, shortly before the Great Recession in the United States, the building was purchased by High Rock Development of Massachusetts for $33.2 million. Bank of America was the building's sole tenant, and utilized about half the building. Bank of America invested $7 million in a new sprinkler and fire safety system.
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