Gannett Building
{{short description|Historic commercial building in New York, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Gannett Building
| nrhp_type =
| image = The Gannett Building.jpg
| caption = The Gannett Building in September 2017
| location = 55 Exchange St., Rochester, New York
| coordinates = {{coord|43|9|14|N|77|36|45|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = New York#USA
| built = 1927
| architect = Howell & Thomas
| architecture = Classical Revival
| added = October 4, 1985
| area = less than one acre
| mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64000563|title=Inner Loop MRA}}
| refnum = 85002862{{NRISref|2009a}}
}}
The Gannett Building is an residential and commercial building located in Rochester in Monroe County, New York. It is a Classical Revival style structure constructed in 1927, with four major later additions. It was built to house the consolidated headquarters and newspaper printing facilities for the Gannett Newspapers chain.
One of the building's most visible features is a relief sculpture over the entrance of its east side. It was created by Italian sculptor Edmond Amateis. The work's central figure is Truth, guarding the eternal flame of enlightenment. The figures on the left are Fine Arts and Industry. On the right are Law and Agriculture.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/dannybusch/3343456892/ Image of Amateis sculpture]
History
Built to house the Rochester Times-Union and the headquarters for Gannett in 1927, a five story 1949 addition was designed by Albert Kahn to house the printing presses. The Democrat and Chronicle moved into the building in 1959.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. and served as the world headquarters for Gannett until 1986.{{cite web |url=https://cris.parks.ny.gov/ |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20190404141934/https://cris.parks.ny.gov/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-04-04 |title=Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS) |publisher=New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |format=Searchable database |accessdate=2016-04-01}} Note: This includes {{cite web |url=https://cris.parks.ny.gov/Uploads/ViewDoc.aspx?mode=A&id=30318&q=false |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Gannett Building |accessdate=2016-04-01 |author=Ted Bartlett |format=PDF |date=August 1985 }} and [https://cris.parks.ny.gov/Uploads/ViewDoc.aspx?mode=A&id=30319&q=false Accompanying two photographs]
In 1986, Gannett moved its headquarters from the building to Arlington County, Virginia. In 1997 the printing presses were moved to nearby Greece. That same year, the Times-Union ceased publication leaving just the Democrat & Chronicle to occupy the building.{{Cite web |last=Astor |first=Will |date=1997-01-31 |title=Gannett to pull plug on Times-Union |url=https://rbj.net/1997/01/31/gannett-to-pull-plug-on-times-union/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Rochester Business Journal |language=en-US}}
File:Rochester - Gannett Building - east face - perspective corrected.jpg
In 2014 it was announced that Gannett was selling the Gannett building and moving the Democrat and Chronicle to a new building at the corner of Main Street and Clinton Ave on the former Midtown Plaza site. At {{convert|153,350| sqft|m2}}, the Gannett building is considerably larger than the new headquarters, which is {{convert|42,000| sqft|m2}}. The paper no longer needed the considerable space in the new digital age where newsprint in the United States is on the decline and the building which includes the space that formerly held the presses is expensive to maintain. As of April 2014, the Gannett building was on the market for sale at an asking price of $3.5 million.{{cite news| title=D&C announces plans for new downtown home| url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/local/2013/10/29/dc-announces-plans-for-new-downtown-home/3305125/| date=October 29, 2013| newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle}} The Democrat and Chronicle moved to its new location on May 2, 2016.
After the departure of the newspaper, the building was renvovated to house 94 one and two-bedroom lofts, along with commercial space under the name The Edmond.{{Cite web |last=Dowd |first=Shawn |title=Look inside as the historic Gannett building is being renovated into the Edmond apartments |url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2024/08/27/historic-gannett-building-being-renovated-into-the-edmond-apartments/74917122007/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Democrat and Chronicle |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.democratandchronicle.com/media/cinematic/gallery/29279359/democrat-and-chronicle-building-history/ Building history] from the Democrat and Chronicle
{{Gannett}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in New York}}
Category:Industrial buildings and structures in Rochester, New York
Category:Office buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)
Category:Neoclassical architecture in New York (state)
Category:Office buildings completed in 1927
Category:Industrial buildings completed in 1927
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Rochester, New York