Cascade Plaza, Akron
Location
The plaza was built on the site of a five-story flour mill built by Dr. Eliakim Crosby in 1831. A diversion dam was built on the Little Cuyahoga River in Middlebury, from which a canal brought water south down the present Main Street, turning right at Mill Street to deliver power to the mill at Lock Five, where the plaza's hotel is now. The canal also powered other factories. The hamlet of Cascade grew up in the area, with a population of 128 by July 1833, compared to 329 for Akron. The Flatiron Building, a seven-story low rise built in 1907 and demolished in 1967 also stood on the site.
Plaza
The plaza lies on the west side of South Main Street, and forms the roof of a five-level underground parking lot. Lawrence Halprin planned the Cascade Plaza. It was a major urban renewal project covering 2 acres (0.81 ha), which used to feature a central skating rink. The plaza has a fountain sculpture designed by Don Drumm and erected in 1968, overleaf, stainless steel rods with anodized, cast aluminum panels.
Buildings
There are four buildings on the site, linked at the ground level by the plaza: Akron City Center Hotel, Cascade I, Cascade III, and Huntington Tower. The hotel (formerly the Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre) is a 19-story modernist high rise complete in 1969. Cascade I, at One Cascade Plaza and 140 South Main Street, is also called the PNC Center. It is a 23-story steel high-rise completed in 1969. Three Cascade Plaza is a seven-story concrete low-rise, also completed in 1969. Huntington Tower, at 106 King James Way, is a 27-story steel tower with an art deco brick facade completed in 1931.
Plans
In October 2013 the Akron City Council voted to approve a complete overhaul of the plaza, partly funded by the city and partly by FirstMerit Corporation, a bank. The plan was to demolish the concrete plaza, then reseal the deck and convert it to green space, open to the street. The new space would have plants, benches and tables. The overhaul was completed in 2015, but a project to repair the Cascade Plaza Parking Deck was approved in 2024.
Gallery
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Huntington Tower, the tallest building in Akron, is located at the plaza. -
Cascade I, also known as the PNC Center, occupies the left corner of the plaza near Main and Bowery. -
The abandoned Akron City Center Hotel occupies the far-right corner of the plaza near Mill Street. -
Cascade III serves as secondary Huntington offices, and is located in the far-center of the plaza, near Quaker Street. -
Looking north from Cascade Plaza, with Cascade III, Akron City Center Hotel, Huntington Tower, and First Energy Tower visible. -
Cascade III and Akron City Center Hotel flank the grassy recreational area of the plaza. -
Decaying section of the parking deck beneath the plaza, subject to upcoming repairs. -
Tunnel beneath Main Street, which connects the plaza to Main Place and to the rest of the Akron sky-walks. -
View of Cascade Plaza from Main and Bowery, with the PNC Center, Akron City Center Hotel, and Huntington Tower visible.
References
Citations
- ^ "Downtown Akron's Cascade Plaza: Then and Now". downtownakron.com. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
- ^ Gieck 1988, p. 247.
- ^ Flatiron Building: Emporis.
- ^ Warsmith 2013.
- ^ Lawrence Halprin & Associates 1970.
- ^ Campen 1980, p. 86.
- ^ Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre: Emporis.
- ^ The Akron city Center Hotel.
- ^ PNC Center: Downtown Akron Partnership.
- ^ Three Cascade Plaza: Emporis.
- ^ "Summit County Fiscal Office property card for 3 Cascade Plaza". fiscalweb.summitoh.net. Archived from the original on 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ Huntington Tower: Emporis.
- ^ "Ohio Senate Approves $2.5M for Cascade Plaza". akronohio.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
Sources
- Campen, Richard N. (1980). Outdoor Sculpture in Ohio. West Summit Press. ISBN 978-0-9601356-2-2. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
- "PNC Center". Downtown Akron Partnership. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
- "National City Center". Emporis. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "FirstMerit Tower". Emporis. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "Flatiron Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - Gieck, Jack (1988). A Photo Album of Ohio's Canal Era, 1825-1913. Kent State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87338-353-0. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
- "Huntington Tower". Emporis. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - Lawrence Halprin & Associates (1970). Lawrence Halprin & Associates. The Firm. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
- "Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre". Emporis. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "The Akron city Center Hotel". Archived from the original on 2014-05-16. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
- "Three Cascade Plaza". Emporis. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - Warsmith, Stephanie (7 October 2013). "Akron moving ahead with plans to improve Cascade Plaza". Akron Beacon. Retrieved 2013-11-18.