Electric Tower

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 14 stories tall and is in the Beaux-Arts Classical Revival style. It was designed by James A. Johnson and built in 1912. The tower was based upon an earlier Electric Tower constructed for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition; as with most of the buildings constructed for that event, the original was only temporary and demolished shortly after the fair ended. Additions were made in 1923 and 1928. 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, for the real estate development company that owns the building.[2]

General Electric Tower
General Electric Tower, June 2009
Location535 Washington Street, Buffalo, New York 14203
Coordinates42°53′18.9594″N 78°52′18.8394″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1912
ArchitectEsenwein & Johnson; E.B. Green and Sons
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
NRHP reference No.08000865[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 12, 2008

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, one of the continent's largest ball drops outside the New York City ball drop. 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.[3]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September 2008.[1]

  • 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)

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2016-07-01. Note: This includes Tom M. Yots and Daniel McEneny (n.d.). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: General Electric Tower" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-07-01. and Accompanying six photographs
  3. "Ring in 2014 at the 26th Annual Buffalo Ball Drop and Fireworks". Buffalo, NY: City of Buffalo. 2013-12-27. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
Preceded by
Erie County Hall		 Tallest Building in Buffalo
1912–1925
90 m		 Succeeded by
Liberty Building
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