The 800 Apartments

The 800 Apartments is a skyscraper in Downtown, Louisville, Kentucky. The building is named after its address of 800 South Fourth Street. The 29-story, 290-foot (88 m) high structure was designed by the Louisville architectural firm of Arrasmith and Tyler in a partnership with the Chicago architectural firm of Loewenberg and Loewenberg. Construction began in 1961 and the building was completed in 1963 at a cost of $6 million. It was built by F. W. "Fritz" Drybrough, who lived in the penthouse for years.. The architect was Louisville architect, W. S. Arrasmith.

The building, which has a continuous-pour reinforced concrete frame, has an aluminum curtain-wall system on its exterior with the color of the aluminum panels being a distinctive turquoise blue. As a result local residents sometimes refer to it as "The Turquoise Tower of Power", a nickname used by disc jockeys who used to broadcast from the building in the 1980s.

The 800 was the tallest building in Louisville from 1963 until the completion of PNC Plaza in 1971 and was Louisville's tallest residential building until Waterfront Park Place was completed in 2004.

The 800 was considered a very upscale residence in its earlier years but its age and upkeep have dimmed its luster somewhat. Its desirability as residential housing has also been affected over the decades by the somewhat gradual progression of Louisville's central business district from the nearby Broadway area at the time the building was new to the Main Street and Market Street areas several blocks to the north. The building sold for $3.95 million in 1997, considerably less than what it was built for, even without adjusting for inflation, and renovated in 1999.

The building features an underground parking garage and four 29th floor penthouses along with an outdoor area on the roof. All rental units, except those on the 2nd floor, have outdoor balconies. The ground floor has in various years featured a restaurant from time to time. The main building of the Louisville Free Public Library is across the intersection of Fourth Street and York Street from the 800.

References

• Hall, Christopher (2002-10-09). "Longtime resident leaves 800 Apartments". The Courier-Journal.