Ames Building

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The Ames Building was the tallest building in Boston when it was completed in 1893, and it remained so until 1919. It is considered to be Boston's first skyscraper.

Located at 1 Court Street and Washington Mall in downtown Boston, the Ames Building was designed by the architectural firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge in Richardsonian Romanesque. It is the second tallest masonry load bearing-wall structure in the world, exceeded only by the Monadnock Building in Chicago, completed that same year.^[1] It is thirteen stories high with a three-story granite base and sandstone and brick walls.^[2] The sandstone is from the Berea formation in Ohio and was supplied by Cleveland Quarries Company. Construction was completed in 1889, but interior work was not completed for occupancy until 1893.

The Ames Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 26 May 1974.^[3]

[edit] References

1. ^ "The Ames Building" Emporis Buildings Frankfurt, Chicago, and Tokyo;
2. ^ "Ames Building" National Registry of Historic Places National Park Service, Washington, D.C. ;
3. ^ "Database" National Registry of Historic Places National Park Service, Washington, D.C. enter: MA Boston ;