IMG Center

The IMG Center is a modernist styled 1965-built 180 foot 16 story high-rise in downtown Cleveland's Nine-Twelve District.[1] It sits at the prominent Cleveland intersection of East Ninth and St. Clair. The building is named after the 1960 Cleveland founded firm International Management Group or IMG. There is a "nub" on top of the building that can be seen in all directions that bears the IMG logo. The distinctive look of the building is due its use of glass in its corners in lieu of solid corner supports.[2] At the time of its construction the building cost $7 Million dollars and was considered a fine example of modernist skyscraper construction.[3]

IMG Center
Former namesOne Erieview Plaza, Cuyahoga Savings Plaza
General information
TypeOffice
Location1360 East Ninth Street Cleveland, Ohio 44114 United States
Construction started1965
Completed1965
Height
Roof54.86 m (180 ft)
Technical details
Floor count16
Design and construction
ArchitectSchafer, Flynn & Van Dijk

IMG Moves Out

The structure was the home of the Cleveland-based Cuyahoga Savings Bank, which was also known as One Erieview Plaza as it was a part of the Erieview plan until it was renamed the IMG Center in 1997.[4] The company is known for its management of sports and athletic endeavors. IMG is now headquartered in New York City but their flagship office has been retained in downtown Cleveland. Originally, leaving Cleveland for New York was not the plan, in fact, Mark McCormack, a company marketing agent and the founder of the firm, offered this in 1989,

"We have had lots of opportunities to move out of Cleveland, but we've never given thought to moving. So many people at IMG have roots here. The lifestyle is especially appealing to young married couples. They are taken with the city and its heritage."

— Cleveland: Shaping the Vision[5]

This proved to not matter in the end, as IMG left Cleveland for New York in the 2000s. However, IMG explained this was a marketing reach process and clientele availability necessity rather than a snub against the company's home base for so many years. New York just made more sense strategically.

See also

References
  1. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=21354 IMG Center Retrieved on 2105-09-08
  2. Hoefler, S.P. (2002). Mid-Rise Buildings. Images of America: Downtown Cleveland's architecture. Arcadia:Charleston, South Carolina.
  3. http://www.emporis.com/buildings/121731/img-center-cleveland-oh-usa IMG Center Retrieved on 2105-09-08
  4. http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=IMG International Management Group Retrieved on 2105-09-08
  5. Whelan, N. (1989). A spectrum of seasonal sensations. Cleveland: Shaping the vision. Windsor Publishing:Chatsworth, California.

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