PNC Tower
Encyclopedia
The 4th & Vine Tower is a 495 foot (151 meter) tall building in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio
. It stands 31 stories tall, overlooking the Ohio River
waterfront. It is easily one of the most recognizable buildings in the city's skyline, owing to the elaborate Hellenic architecture in the upper portion of the tower, which was modeled to resemble reconstructions of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Few PNC Bank employees now work in the 4th & Vine Tower today, as most report to the newer PNC Center. PNC Bank has the signage rights to the building, but that is not the official name. It is officially the 4th & Vine Tower. The signage on the building was "Central Trust" until sometime after the Scripps Building was completed in 1990.
When construction of the Cass Gilbert
-designed building was completed in 1913, the PNC Tower was the fifth-tallest building in the world and the 2nd tallest building outside of New York City
. The building opened May 1 with final construction costs of approximately $3 million. It remained the tallest building in Cincinnati until 1931, when construction on the Carew Tower
was completed.
The 4th & Vine Tower was originally built as the headquarters for The Union Central Life Insurance Company
, which moved out in 1964.
The building, along with the nearby skyscraper, the Carew Tower
, was featured in the opening and closing of the daytime drama The Edge of Night
until 1980. Cincinnati had stood in as the show's locale, Monticello; the company that produced Edge, soap and consumer products maker Procter and Gamble, is based in Cincinnati.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. It stands 31 stories tall, overlooking the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
waterfront. It is easily one of the most recognizable buildings in the city's skyline, owing to the elaborate Hellenic architecture in the upper portion of the tower, which was modeled to resemble reconstructions of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Few PNC Bank employees now work in the 4th & Vine Tower today, as most report to the newer PNC Center. PNC Bank has the signage rights to the building, but that is not the official name. It is officially the 4th & Vine Tower. The signage on the building was "Central Trust" until sometime after the Scripps Building was completed in 1990.
History
The site of the tower was previously occupied by the U. S. Post Office and Customs House and also at a later time by the Chamber of Commerce Building.When construction of the Cass Gilbert
Cass Gilbert
- Historical impact :Gilbert is considered a skyscraper pioneer; when designing the Woolworth Building he moved into unproven ground — though he certainly was aware of the ground-breaking work done by Chicago architects on skyscrapers and once discussed merging firms with the legendary Daniel...
-designed building was completed in 1913, the PNC Tower was the fifth-tallest building in the world and the 2nd tallest building outside of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The building opened May 1 with final construction costs of approximately $3 million. It remained the tallest building in Cincinnati until 1931, when construction on the Carew Tower
Carew Tower
Carew Tower is the second tallest building in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. However, it is still the highest elevated building in the city. The Great American Insurance building is only taller because of the basement. Completed in 1930, it stands 49 stories tall in the heart of downtown,...
was completed.
The 4th & Vine Tower was originally built as the headquarters for The Union Central Life Insurance Company
Union Central Life Insurance Company
Union Central Life Insurance Company was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1867. It was established as a mutual insurance company.Among its founders were Norman Wait Harris, founder of Harris Bank....
, which moved out in 1964.
The building, along with the nearby skyscraper, the Carew Tower
Carew Tower
Carew Tower is the second tallest building in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. However, it is still the highest elevated building in the city. The Great American Insurance building is only taller because of the basement. Completed in 1930, it stands 49 stories tall in the heart of downtown,...
, was featured in the opening and closing of the daytime drama The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
until 1980. Cincinnati had stood in as the show's locale, Monticello; the company that produced Edge, soap and consumer products maker Procter and Gamble, is based in Cincinnati.