Capitol Center (Salem, Oregon)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial real estate |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Founder | Thomas A. Livesley |
| Headquarters | Salem, Oregon , United States |
| Products | Office space leasing |
The Capitol Center is a high-rise office tower situated in the heart of downtown Salem, Oregon, United States. Originally completed in 1927 under the name First National Bank Building, it was developed by Salem entrepreneur Thomas A. Livesley. This eleven-story edifice, crafted by architect Leigh L. Dougan, continues to hold the distinction of being Salem's tallest office structure. Positioned at the intersection of State and Liberty streets, it forms part of Salem's historic downtown district and earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as the Old First National Bank Building.
History
Thomas Livesley, who amassed his fortune through the hops industry, engaged architect Leigh L. Dougan to create a skyscraper for Salem.[1][2] At that period, Livesley was serving as vice president of Oregon Linen Mills and provided the funding for the construction.[3] The building process commenced in July 1926[2] under the direction of Hammond & Hammond Company.[4] The structure officially opened in early 1927 as the First National Bank Building; Livesley had established the bank in 1923.[2]
Reactions to the building’s design at its inauguration were divided, with some critics deeming it unattractive while others regarded it as a landmark.[2] Following Livesley's passing in 1947, the building was renamed the Livesley Building,[5] and subsequently became known as the Cascade Bank Building.[3] The tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1986,[6] then underwent renovation from 1987 to 1988 by Morse Brothers, Inc., who also rebranded it as Capitol Center.[2][5][7] In January 1997, Morse Brothers sold the property for $3.1 million to an investor group named Salem Gargoyle.[2]
In April 2003, Roger Yost purchased the Capitol Center for $4.65 million following his acquisition of the adjacent Reed Opera House.[8] Also referred to as Capitol Tower, Yost implemented renovations including updated elevators and refurbishments to the seventh floor.[7][9]
Details
Situated on State Street within downtown Salem, this building stands 151 feet (46 m) tall up to its parapet wall and comprises eleven stories. As Salem's sole high-rise office tower, it ranks as the city's third tallest edifice after Salem First United Methodist Church (188 feet) and the Oregon State Capitol (173 feet). Including its tallest antenna, Capitol Center reaches a height of 164 feet.
The structure is built with a reinforced concrete framework and features an exterior clad in light pink Florentine sandstone. Ornamental gargoyles and sculpted heads embellish its upper sections, while the fifth floor retains original mahogany doors preserving its historic integrity. The building provides roughly 49,700 square feet of leasable office space.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Cowan, Ron.