Crosley Tower

Last updated
Crosley Tower
Crosley Tower, University of Cincinnati.jpg
Crosley Tower
Interactive map of the Crosley Tower area
General information
StatusUnder demolition
Architectural style Brutalist
Location301 Clifton Court, Cincinnati, Ohio
Coordinates 39°08′04″N84°31′00″W / 39.134550°N 84.516715°W / 39.134550; -84.516715
Named for Powel Crosley Jr.
Demolished2026–2027 (est.)
Cost$5 million
Owner University of Cincinnati
Technical details
MaterialConcrete
Floor count16
Floor area107,253 sq ft (9,964.1 m2)
Design and construction
Architecture firmA.M. Kinney Associates
Other information
Public transit accessAiga bus trans.svg SORTA Metro routes 17, 24, 37, 38, 51

Crosley Tower is a 16-story campus building of the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was designed in the Brutalist style by A.M. Kinney Associates, a Cincinnati architecture firm. As of January 2026, the building is in the process of being demolished.

Contents

Attributes

Crosley Tower has 107,253 sq ft (9,964.1 m2) between 16 stories. [1] The tower, along with its counterpart Rieveschl Hall, has massive concrete columns that flare at the top. It is roughly square, and resembles an abstract fluted Corinthian column. The tower is a symbol of the university, and a visual landmark, visible from most areas on the campus and beyond. [2]

The tower is the second largest continuous pour concrete structure in the United States, behind the Hoover Dam. [3]

History

Crosley Tower on January 26, 2026, the day before demolition began. Crosley Tower on the day before demolition is scheduled to begin.jpg
Crosley Tower on January 26, 2026, the day before demolition began.

The tower was completed in 1969 for $5 million. [1] It was named after University of Cincinnati alumnus Powel Crosley Jr. [4]

In 2017, the building was featured at the top of a list of America's ugliest university buildings, as compiled by Architectural Digest . [5] In 2020, Cincinnati Magazine included it in a list of iconic Cincinnati architecture that defines the city. [6]

In 2018, university officials announced the building's planned demolition. The structure has not been well maintained, with problems including crumbling exterior concrete, a sinking foundation, and leaking ceilings. [7] The officials also described that the building does not function well for the university, and that renovations would be difficult due to its thick, seamless concrete walls. Its chemistry and biology labs must be relocated off-site before the demolition can take place. [8] In 2020, the college set 2025 as the soonest date for demolition, pending construction of Clifton Court Hall and renovation of the Old Chemistry Building. [7] An official plan for the demolition and replacement of Crosley Tower was revealed in 2023, [9] with $47.3 million approved by the UC Board of Trustees on April 22, 2025 to fund its remediation and demolition.

Deconstruction was scheduled to begin on January 27, 2026, following a brief weather delay. Skanska is leading the project, utilizing a top-down, floor-by-floor removal process. The demolition and site remediation is projected to cost approximately $47 million and conclude by February 2027. The university plans to replace the tower with a $215 million, 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) STEM education facility. [10]

In 2021, the student organization "Crosley Tower Appreciation Club" was started at the University of Cincinnati. Some society activities include photography competitions and watching movies projected against the building's side. [11] By 2026, the club had grown to over 500 members, with fans creating custom fonts inspired by the building's aesthetics to commemorate the "bold and unapologetic" structure. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 "UC Buildings".
  2. ↑ Bennett, Paul (2001). University of Cincinnati: An Architectural Tour. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN   978-1-56898-232-8.
  3. ↑ Media Relations, Cedric Ricks (1 May 2025). "A farewell for the iconic Crosley Tower". UC News. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  4. ↑ Modernnati (2021-01-19). "Building A2: The Underappreciated Spectacle of Crosley Tower". modernnati. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  5. ↑ "The 7 Ugliest University Buildings in America". Architectural Digest. 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  6. ↑ "20 Iconic Buildings That Define Cincinnati's Architecture". 3 February 2020.
  7. 1 2 Director, Quinlan Bentley | News. "Crosley Tower to be demolished in 2025". The News Record. Retrieved 2022-02-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Brookbank, Sarah. "Crosley Tower will be demolished ... eventually". The Enquirer. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  9. ↑ Courier, BRIAN PLANALP Cincinnati Business (2023-09-05). "UC plans $240M Crosley Tower replacement building". WKRC. Retrieved 2023-09-05.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  10. 1 2 Swartsell, Nick (26 January 2026). "Deconstruction of UC's Crosley Tower starts Tuesday". WVXU. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  11. ↑ Reporter, Joe Frye | Life & Arts. "UC students show appreciation for Crosley Tower through campus org". The News Record. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
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