The 800 Apartments
{{short description|High rise apartment building in Louisville, KY, US}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox building
| name = The 800 Apartments
| image = 800 building.jpg
| image_size = 150px
| caption = The 800 Apartments in 2006
| location = 800 South Fourth Street
Louisville, Kentucky, 40201
| coordinates = {{coord|38|14|37.85|N|85|45|32.77|W|type:landmark_region:US-KY|display=inline,title}}
| architectural_style = International Style{{cite news |last=Poynter |first=Chris |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-problems-with-800-ap/135792221/ |title=High rise hits a low note with residents; The 800 apartments lost prestige, face problems |date=August 7, 2004 |work=The Courier-Journal |page=A1 |via=newspaper.com |access-date=November 26, 2023}}
| antenna_spire = {{convert|331|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| roof = {{convert|290|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| floor_count = 29
| start_date = {{Start date and age|1961}}
| completion_date = 1963–{{Start date and age|1964}}
| opened_date = {{Start date and age|1963}}
| main_contractor = Robert E. McKee General Contractor, Inc.
| renovation_date = 2015–{{Start date and age|2016}}
| cost = $6 million
| building_type = Residential
| status = Complete
| architect = W. S. Arrasmith (Louisville)
Loewenberg & Loewenberg (Chicago){{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/13178291/ |title=Architects Here Shuffling Firms |date=June 30, 1963 |work=The Courier-Journal |page=66 |via=newspapers.com|access-date=November 25, 2023}}{{cite book |editor-first=John E. |editor-last=Kleber |year=2001 |title=The Encyclopedia of Louisville |chapter=Arrasmith, William Strudwick |page=49 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |location=Lexington, Kentucky |isbn=0-8131-2100-0 |oclc=247857447 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXbYITw4ZesC |access-date=November 25, 2023}}
| developer = F. W. "Fritz" Drybrough Sr.{{cite book |first=George H. |last=Yater |year=1987 |title=Two Hundred Years at the Fall of the Ohio: A History of Louisville and Jefferson County |chapter=Chapter Seventeen; New Directions: Louisville in the Post-Industrial Age |page=230 |publisher=Filson Club, Incorporated |location=Louisville, Kentucky |edition=2nd |isbn=0-9601072-3-1}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-800-building-receive/135788356/ |title=800 Building Will Receive Honor From F.H.A. Today |date=January 6, 1964 |work=The Courier-Journal |page=15 |via=newspapers.com |access-date=November 26, 2023}}
}}
The 800 Tower, formerly The 800 Apartments, is a 29-story residential skyscraper in Louisville, Kentucky, located in the city's SoBro neighborhood, nestled between Old Louisville and downtown.{{cite news |last=Ward |first=Steven |url=https://www.leoweekly.com/arts/return-of-the-turquoise-tower-15768884 |title=Return of the Turquoise Tower |date=November 9, 2016 |work=LEO Weekly |access-date=August 24, 2024}} At the time construction was complete in 1963, The 800 was the tallest building in Louisville,{{cite book |editor-first=John E. |editor-last=Kleber |year=2001 |title=The Encyclopedia of Louisville |chapter=Apartment Buildings |page=40 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |location=Lexington, Kentucky |isbn=0-8131-2100-0 |oclc=247857447 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXbYITw4ZesC |access-date=November 25, 2023}} a record it maintained for nearly a decade.
The building hosts the radio transmitter for WXMA (formerly WLRS FM), which has its studio a few blocks away.{{Cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Wxma&nav=home|title=WXMA-FM 102.3 MHz – Louisville, KY|website=radio-locator.com}} From 1968 to 1988, WLRS-FM's studios occupied most of the building's ninth floor.{{Cite web |title=WLRS -- EARLY DAYS 1967 -- 69 {{!}} LKYRadio.com Message Board |url=https://lkyradio.proboards.com/thread/62/wlrs-early-days-1967-69 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=lkyradio.proboards.com}}{{Cite web |title=Welcome to LKYRadio - Classic Louisville, Kentucky Radio - WLRS Page |url=http://lkyradio.com/WLRS.htm |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=lkyradio.com}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=Sources are not editorially vetted, nor do they seem to fully back up the content.|date=August 2024}}
History
Designed by architect William Strudwick Arrasmith of Louisville in consultation with Loewenberg & Loewenberg of Chicago, and developed by Frederick W. "Fritz" Drybrough Sr.,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/117579396/ |title=Former coal broker files suit for $15 million over his arrest |date=January 26, 1978 |page=D8 |work=The Courier-Journal |via=newspapers.com |access-date=November 26, 2023}} construction on The 800 began in 1961. The construction contract was awarded to Robert E. McKee General Contractor, Inc. of Dallas.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-contractor-mckee-sel/146454588/ |title=Skyscraper Work To Start In 2 Weeks |date=November 2, 1961 |page=21 |work=The Courier-Journal |via=newspapers.com |access-date=May 1, 2024}} The building was completed 1963–64,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/124737628/ |title=Holiday Greetings From 290 Feet |date=December 7, 1963 |work=The Courier-Journal |page=15 |via=newspapers.com |access-date=November 25, 2023 |quote=Workmen still are finishing the inside of the huge building. About 40 percent of the apartments now are occupied.}} with construction costs totaling $6 million.{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Christopher |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-retrospective-of-the/135790331/ |title=Longtime resident leaves 800 Apartments |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |page=82 |date=October 9, 2002 |access-date=November 26, 2023}} Already in January 1964, the building's developer and architects won the Honor Award "for superior design" from the Federal Housing Administration, the agency's first such award, which they gave to 28 out of 315 entries.
On June 16, 2015, Michigan-based property management firm, Village Green announced the purchase of the 800 Building, and renamed it 800 Tower City Apartments, and began renovations expected to exceed $10 million, and take 18 months.{{cite news|last=Finley|first=Marty|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2015/06/19/800-apartments.html|title=Village Green CEO: 800 Apartments 'will be the best apartment building in Louisville'|work=Louisville Business First|date=June 19, 2015|access-date=November 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227104437/http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2015/06/19/800-apartments.html|archive-date=December 27, 2019|url-status=live}}
Architectural features
File:The 800, Louisville, KY.jpg
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 aqua, or turquoise, blue.{{cite book |last1=Luhan |first1=Gregory |last2=Domer |first2=Dennis |last3=Mohoney |first3=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fai4OHydKKIC&pg=PA187 |title=The Louisville Guide |page=187 |year=2004 |publisher=Princeton Architectural Press |isbn=978-1-56898-451-3 |access-date=November 26, 2023 }} As a result, local residents sometimes refer to it as the "Turquoise Tower of Power" (or just "Turquoise Tower"), a nickname used by disc jockeys who have broadcast from the building.{{Additional citation needed|date=November 2023}}
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, and in 2017, Bar Vetti, a new Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor patio seating opened.{{cite news|last=Mann|first=David A.|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2016/09/08/louisville-restaurateurs-plans-a-new-concept-in.html|title=Louisville restaurateurs plan a new concept in the 800 building|work=Louisville Business First|date=September 8, 2016|access-date=November 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909081905/http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2016/09/08/louisville-restaurateurs-plans-a-new-concept-in.html|archive-date=September 9, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2017/10/11/inside-look-step-inside-feast-owners-new.html |title= INSIDE LOOK: Step inside the new Bar Vetti restaurant| date=October 11, 2017}}
{{Clear}}
References
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External links
- {{Official website|https://www.800tower.com/}}
- [https://www.courier-journal.com/picture-gallery/news/2018/10/04/downtown-louisville-apartments-tour-800-tower-city-club/1509909002/ Tour the 800 Tower City Club, Photo Gallery] — Courier Journal, October 4, 2018
- [https://insiderlouisville.com/economy/new-management-to-take-over-at-800-tower-city-apartments/ New management to take over 800 Tower City Apartments] — Insider Louisville News, January 30, 2017
- [https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2015/07/24/downtown-louisvilles-800-building-gets-new-name-as.html Downtown Louisville's 800 Building gets new name as renovations ramp up] — Louisville Business First, July 24, 2015
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title=Tallest building in Kentucky
| before=Commonwealth Building
| years=1963–1971
| after=PNC Plaza
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Louisville skyscrapers |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:800 Apartments}}
Category:Residential buildings completed in 1963
Category:Skyscrapers in Louisville, Kentucky
Category:Apartment buildings in Louisville, Kentucky
Category:Residential skyscrapers in Kentucky