William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower

William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower
Tennessee Tower 2009.jpg
General information
Type Office
Location 312 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
Nashville, Tennessee
United States
Coordinates
Completed 1970
Height
Roof 452 feet (138 m)
Technical details
Floor count 31
Design and construction
Owner State of Tennessee
Architect Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill

The William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower (also known as the Tennessee Tower) is skyscraper in downtown Nashville, Tennessee that houses Tennessee government offices. The tower was built for the National Life and Accident Insurance Company and served as its National Life Center until the State of Tennessee acquired it on January 3, 1994. Over 1000 state employees who had been assigned to numerous locations now work in the building.[1]

The building is named in honor of William R. Snodgrass, a career public servant who served as Tennessee's Comptroller of the Treasury from 1955 till 1999.

The tower was struck by lightning on August 31, 2003, which caused a firepump to turn on the sprinkler system. This caused flooding and extensive damage to the elevator shafts.[2]

Prior to being purchased by the state, the building was used to display messages by turning on lights in the windows on the front of the building. After being dormant for 10 years a new message - "Peace" was displayed on December 17, 2007.[3]

See also

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References

Preceded by
Life & Casualty Tower
Tallest Building in Nashville
1970—1986
138m
Succeeded by
Fifth Third Center