Aviation Building

The Aviation Building, also known as the Fritz Hotel, was a building located in Miami, Florida, United States. The building stood from 1927 to the mid-1970s when it was torn down and replaced. The address of the building was 3240 NW 27th Avenue which was 16 blocks east of the east end of runway 9/27 at Miami International Airport. The building was used for a number of purposes, none of which was a hotel.[1]

See also: Aviation Building (Fort Worth)
The Aviation Building with a WSR-57 radar antenna on top.

History

Construction

Construction for the Fritz Hotel began in 1925 by M.R. Harrison Construction Company. By 1927 three quarters of the construction was completed, but halted due to the Great Depression. The unfinished building was never used as a hotel. The building served many other purposes throughout its 50-year history as the owners repurposed the hotel's shell. After being unoccupied for 10 years, the building was rented out to small businesses.[1] The owners would complete various building components in accordance with various manufacturers' specifications.[2](subscription required)

Hen House

The first use of the building was a temporary hen house where it held up to 60,000 hens. Because such an expensive building was used for hens, it was often nicknamed the "Million Dollar Hen House".[1]

Embry-Riddle

In November 1940 the Technical Division of Embry-Riddle School of Aviation (now Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) moved into the south wing of the building. The Technical Division handled aircraft mechanic training. By 1941 Embry-Riddle had acquired the entire building, filled it with offices, classrooms, workshops, military barracks, a cafeteria, library, and clinic, and renamed it the Aviation Building. In April 1965 the school was packed into trucks and moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, overnight.[1]

National Weather Service

On June 1, 1958, the National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office of Miami, Florida, moved into part of the building, while Embry-Riddle remained there. A WSR-57 network radar was installed on top of the building on June 26, 1959. The NWS moved its offices out of the building on December 23, 1964.[3]

Clothing factory

After the NWS and Embry-Riddle moved out the building remained vacant for a few years. In the late 1960s the building was used as a clothing factory. Lorenzo Blanco owned the structure.[1]

Removal

The building was demolished in May 1971 and replaced with a county juvenile detention center and courthouse.[1][4]

References
  1. "1940's & 50's - The Aviation Building, formerly the Fritz Hotel, home of Embry-Riddle School of Aviation". Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  2. "Salute to the Captain's Paradise". May 3, 1964.
  3. "History of National Weather Service Forecast Office Miami, Florida". Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  4. "Aviation Building comes down". The Miami News. May 20, 1971.

25.8063°N 80.2422°W / 25.8063; -80.2422

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