Hill Building

Hill Building

Historic View of Hill Building From Parrish Street
General information
Type office
Location 111 Corcoran Street
Durham, North Carolina, USA
Coordinates 35°59′46″N 78°54′06″W / 35.996133°N 78.901749°WCoordinates: 35°59′46″N 78°54′06″W / 35.996133°N 78.901749°W
Construction started 1935
Completed 1937
Owner Greenfire
Height
Top floor 17
Design and construction
Architect Shreve, Lamb & Harmon

The Hill Building is a 17-story modernistic skyscraper located in Durham, North Carolina. Built in 1935-1937, the Hill Building was designed by New York City Architecture firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon,[1] best known for the design of the Empire State Building.

Named for John Sprunt Hill, and built to house the Durham Bank & Trust Company, the building is outfitted with Art Deco ornamentation, interior fluted doors and an exquistirely crafted letter box. The building is in the heart of downtown Durham, located at the intersection of Main and Corcoran Streets. The Hill building was home to Durham-based Central Carolina Bank and Trust from 1961 until its 2005 purchase by SunTrust Banks,[2][3] which had its local headquarters in the building until 2006.[4]

Greenfire Development, which bought the Hill Building in 2006, wants to renovate the building to convert it to a 165-room luxury hotel. The project has been delayed due to the economic downturn. The estimated cost of the project is $52.7 million, with $25 million of that likely to be paid for using federal recovery zone bonds. The city of Durham voted to add $4.2 million after a September 20, 2010 public hearing regarding this plan, and Durham County voted to add $1 million. Greenfire hoped historic tax credits would provide $11 million, and other tax credits would add $4 million.[5][6][7]

In February 2013, Kentucky-based Museum Hotels bought the Hill building for a reported $5.25 million. The company plans to redevelop the property into a boutique hotel. [8] Construction began in late July 2013 and is expected to be complete in 2015.[9]

Skanska is in charge of the construction project in partnership with 21c Museum Hotels. The renovation also includes a plan for a contemporary art museum, upscale restaurants, bar and ballroom. The museum is scheduled to operate 24 hours per day and offer free admission. An estimated $48 million is expected to be spent to complete the entire renovation for the Hill Building.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Hill Building". American Society of Civil Engineers - North Carolina. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  2. ↑ Bonner, Paul (2005-01-03). "CCB sign was built to last". Herald-Sun. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  3. ↑ "Old Post Office/Hill, CCB, SunTrust Building/Main and Corcoran - NW". Endangered Durham. 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  4. ↑ Jack Hagel, "SunTrust Bank sells tower: The deal will double the bank's name in the skyline," News & Observer, July 15, 2006.
  5. ↑ "Durham schedules hearing on hotel". News & Observer. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  6. ↑ "Durham approves $4.2 million Greenfire deal". News & Observer. 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
  7. ↑ "Top 10 story lines to follow in 2011". News & Observer. 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  8. ↑ http://www.heraldsun.com/business/x3716049/21c-Museum-Hotels-company-buys-downtown-tower
  9. ↑ http://www.durham-nc.com/about/new_visitor_developments/new_visitor_developments_chart.php
  10. ↑ http://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/blog/news/21c-begins-renovation-and-restoration-of-downtown-durhams-historic-hill-building/

External links