Continental Building seems best known for its next-door neighbors: the crinkled-aluminum Markel Building to the west and the Willow Lawn shopping center to the east. Yet, it’s a surprising (though modest) piece of architecture. The entire three-story building is raised on stilts a la Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye – providing shaded parking. The high arched […]
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Inspired by a foil-wrapped baked potato the architect consumed at an American Institute of Architects dinner. Each floor is clad in a 555-foot sledge-hammered sheet of aluminum. Name: Enterprise Center, aka Markel Building Location: 5310 Markel Road Year Completed: 1965 Architect: Haig Jamgochian Style: modern Architecture Richmond: Markel Building Google Map All images copyright ©
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James Center is a two-square-block complex of three office towers, all interconnected with each other and with the Omni Richmond hotel, and a parking garage. One James Center, Two James Center, and Three James Center all have East Cary Street addresses, though Three James Center actually fronts on East Canal Street. The buildings were extensively
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James Monroe Building, Richmond’s tallest building, sits atop a parking garage and an elevated plaza. A second tower was originally planned for the plaza, but scuttled because of the ‘80s recession. The state-owned building could be demolished soon, because authorities say it is more cost-effective to build new than to modernize the skyscraper. Name: James
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Bank of America Center was built in 1974 as the First & Merchants Bank Building. Name: Bank of America Center Location: 1111 East Main Street Year Completed: 1974 Architect: Welton Becket & Associates Style: International Google Map All images copyright © Kenneth Grant / photos taken October 2019 with Canon 5D Mark iv
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600 Canal Place replaced Dominion Energy’s former headquarters at 700 East Canal Street, aka One James River Plaza. That building was demolished by implosion in 2020. The new curtain wall skyscraper is a shape-shifter: The tower has dramatically different appearances when viewed from different angles. From any angle, the 20-story blue glass mirror reflects sky
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New Haven Savings Bank Building, a pink limestone skyscraper, is a stark contrast with neighboring City Hall on New Haven Green’s eastern edge. The postmodern building was designed by William Pedersen and completed in 1974. Name: New Haven Savings Bank Building Location: 195 Church Street Year Completed: 1974 Architect: William Pedersen Style: Postmodern Yale University
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Connecticut Financial Center, towering over City Hall on the east side of New Haven Green, was built in 1990, designed by Crang and Boake. Name: Connecticut Financial Center Location: 157 Church Street, Year Completed: 1990 Architect: Crang and Boake Style: Postmodern Wikipedia: Connecticut Financial Center Google Map All images copyright © Kenneth Grant /
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Gold Building, Hartford CT; aka 755 Main Street, One Financial Plaza, converted to residential use in 2014. Building has a microgrid – 336 solar panels on roof, plus a 400 kilowatt fuel cell. Name: Gold Building, One Financial Plaza Location: 755 Main Street Year Completed: 1967 Architect: Welton Becket Style: Postmodern Wikipedia: 777 Main Street
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City Place (1980) is Connecticut’s tallest building – just two meters taller than Travelers Tower (1919). Name: City Place Location: 185 Asylum Street Year Completed: 1980 Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Style: Postmodern Wikipedia: City Place I Google Map All images copyright © Kenneth Grant / photos taken October 2020 with Canon 5D Mark iv
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