909 Walnut
| Formerly | Fidelity National Bank & Trust Building, Federal Office Building, 911 Walnut |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Real estate, Residential housing |
| Founded | 1931 |
| Headquarters | Kansas City , United States |
| Products | Residential apartments, Commercial office space, Parking garage |
| Website | www |
909 Walnut—previously known as the Fidelity National Bank & Trust Building, Federal Office Building, and 911 Walnut—is a 35-story residential high-rise featuring twin spires, situated in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri. It held the title of Missouri's tallest residential building until the Kansas City Power & Light Building was converted into apartments, and it currently stands as the tenth tallest occupied structure in Missouri.
The building was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
History
Constructed in 1931 under the name Fidelity National Bank & Trust Building, the project’s estimated cost was $2.85 million, inclusive of banking fixtures. Prior to this development, the location housed a two-story post office and federal office until 1904, when Fidelity acquired the property to serve as its headquarters. The original edifice was razed in 1930 to permit construction of the current tower, which showcases an Art Deco style fused with Gothic Revival elements. This design was crafted by architect firm Hoit, Price & Barnes, also responsible for the nearby Power and Light Building.
During the Great Depression, the bank ceased operations in 1933.
On June 14, 1946, under President Harry S. Truman’s administration, the Federal Government acquired the property for $3.3 million, subsequently renaming it the Federal Office Building.
In 1954, the newly established Severe Local Storms Warning Service of the United States Weather Bureau relocated from Washington, D.C., to this site. A notable feature during this period was a distinctive radome containing weather radar equipment installed between the twin towers; this structure remained until its removal in 1995 when the service moved to Norman, Oklahoma, becoming known as the Storm Prediction Center.
Another significant element was the "town clock" located in the north tower, originally part of the 1885 post office building. The clock’s bell, cast by McShane Bell Company in 1882, was preserved until modifications were made to install large windows for residential units, leading to removal of the clock face. The bell itself was sold and transported by airlift in 2000.
Following the departure of federal offices in 1995, Northland Management & Investment acquired the building for $500,000. It remained unoccupied until its sale in 2000 to Simbol Commercial Inc., based in Dallas, for $2 million. After the September 11 attacks, the property’s name changed from 911 Walnut to 909 Walnut. Simbol reportedly invested approximately $64 million to transform this building along with the adjacent 929 Walnut Building into a complex comprising 159 residential apartments and commercial office space. Additionally, a public parking garage with capacity for 323 vehicles and an acclaimed rooftop garden were developed.
The initial four floors are currently leased by Entertainment Properties Trust (NYSE:EPR).
See also
- Tallest buildings in Kansas City
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri
References
- Kansas City, Missouri; An Architectural History, 1826-1990. George Ehrlich. (Pages 95–97)
- American Institute of Architects Guide to Kansas City Architecture & Public Art. American Institute of Architects/KC. (Page 30, Number 42)
External links
- Bank buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Missouri
- Residential structures completed in 1931
- Kansas City, Missouri skyscrapers
- Gothic Revival style architecture in Missouri
- Art Deco style architecture in Missouri
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas City, Missouri
- Residential high-rises in Missouri
- Downtown Kansas City
- Bank buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Missouri