In 1964, Erieview Plaza and Tower was built at the corner of East 12th St. and Rockwell Ave.
Originally envisioned by I.M. Pei as part of a larger redevelopment that would include greenspaces and other buildings, the tower, currently the 4th tallest building in Cleveland, was built by another architect and only parts of Pei’s plan were accomplished by other architects over the years across what was planned as a 163-acre, two phase development.
It was also derided by Ada Louise Huxtable, The New York Times architecture critic, in the early 70s, who wrote, “The Erieview project stands as a kind of monument to everything that was wrong with urban renewal thinking in America in the 1960’s. There is a large, abortive plan by the architect I. M. Pei, long on desolate, overscaled spaces, destructive of cohesive urbanism and defiantly antihuman.”
It is finding a second life as a nearly $100-million project is inthe works to turn the lower floors into the first W Hotel in Ohio and the upper floors into 227 upscale apartments.
Here’s what Erieview has looked like through the years.
Pei’s original master plan, which was never realized. Credit: I.M. Pei FoundationErieview Tower windows illuminated, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Plaza and surrounding building, 1971 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Plaza parking lot and unfinished Erieview Tower, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAerial view of Erieview Plaza, Erieview Tower, and unfinished building, 1965 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Tower window damage, 1980 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectSkaters at Erieview Plaza ice rink, 1967 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectChristmas decorations on Erieview Tower, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAerial view of Erieview Plaza under construction, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectPlastic sheeting in front of Erieview Tower, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectCarpenters at work at Erieview Plaza, 1965 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Tower during construction, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectConstruction hazard at Erieview Plaza, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectConstruction of Erieview Tower in progress, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Tower under construction, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectConstruction workers on the 19th floor of Erieview Tower, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectArchitectural rendering of Erieview urban renewal, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectCrowd gathered around fountain at Erieview mall, 1977 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAgreement signing for Erieview Plaza Building, 1967 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Plaza building sign, 1965 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectWallace Teare pulling in a proposal for Erieview Development, 1961 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview meeting at City Hall, 1960 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAerial view of Erieview construction site, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAerial view of location for Erieview project, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAerial view of location for Erieview project, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAround the clock construction at Erieview Plaza, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectWorkers putting up fencing at Erieview Plaza, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectSandpile at Erieview Plaza, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Plaza construction, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectDilapidated buildings prior to Erieview project, 1961 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectBuilding being demolished for Erieview project, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAerial view of area for proposed Erieview project, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectDemolition of building for Erieview project, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectLocation for proposed Erieview project, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectEast 9th Street and St. Clair Avenue, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Plaza construction, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectDebris and dust settling after demolition of building for Erieview project, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAerial view of the Erieview location before construction,1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Plaza, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAerial view of the Erieview area before construction, 196 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectDemolition of a building in the Erieview area, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectWorkers on steel high beams, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectConstruction workers pouring concrete for Erieview Plaza parking garage, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectSteel piling at Erieview Plaza, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectSteel piling at Erieview Plaza, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectConstruction crew break, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Plaza, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectView of Erieview plaza from the north, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectGalbreath building construction, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectConstruction of Bassiche’s Building, 1961 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectAerial view of construction, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectIntersection of East 9th and Rockwell before Erieview, 1961 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectDemolition of building on Hamilton, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectCrowd at ground-breaking, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectCredit: Cleveland Memory ProjectChuck’s Bar on Hamilton Avenue pre-Erieview, 1960 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectConstruction, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectEstablishments along Rockwell before Erieview, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectSteel equipment and workers, 1963 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectHart Arms and Clark Machining buildings on site, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectCranes lifting heavy equipment from Power Block building, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectGray Industrial Supply on Erieview Site, 1961 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectErieview Plaza, 1967 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectSite of the soon-to-be-built Erieview Tower, 1962 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectThe Erieview Tower under construction, 1965 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectPlans for landscaping on East 12th Street near Erieview, 1964 Credit: Cleveland Memory ProjectBuildings purchased for Erieview development, 1961 Credit: Cleveland Memory Project
