Boji Tower

The Boji Tower, also known as the Michigan National Bank Building, is a historic 23-story building located at 124 Allegan Street, in Lansing, Michigan. It has been the tallest building in Lansing since its completion in 1931. On December 6, 2005, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Capital Bank Tower.[1]

Boji Tower
Boji Tower as seen looking west over Allegan Street
General information
TypeOffice
Location124 West Allegan Street, Lansing, Michigan, USA
Construction started1929
Completed1931
Height
Antenna spire110.9 m (364 ft)
Roof90.5 m (297 ft)
Technical details
Floor count23 above ground & 2 underground
Floor area185,188.77 sq ft (17,204.600 m2)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Hopkins & Dentz
Website
bojigroup.com
Capital Bank Tower
Location124 West Allegan Street, Lansing, Michigan
Coordinates42°43′58″N 84°33′11″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1931
ArchitectHopkins and Dentz; Builder: Hutter Construction Co.
Architectural styleArt Deco, Skyscraper
MPSDowntown Lansing MRA
NRHP reference No.05001357[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 6, 2005

History

The tower was originally constructed as the Olds Tower, named after the automotive industrialist, Ransom Eli Olds, who was the main financier of the tower project, assisted by Edmund C. Shields of the local law firm of Thomas Shields & Silsbee.[2] Shortly thereafter it was renamed Capital Bank Tower, after the bank that Ransom Eli Olds helped form. The cornerstone was laid on November 14, 1929[2] and the tower opened on April 6, 1931.[3]

It became the Michigan National Bank Tower in 1954, and held that name until 2001 when Standard Federal Bank purchased Michigan National Bank. At the request of Standard Federal, the owners of the tower removed the historic neon 'Michigan National' sign in that year. After four-and-a-half years without a name, the Boji family, a father and son development team of Iraqi descent who owned the tower since 1998, renamed it the Boji Tower in 2005.[4]

The tower has been through one major expansion which occurred between 1965 and 1967, which include the addition of an 11-story annex built directly adjacent to the front of the tower. The tower has undergone multiple minor renovations since 1998 under the Boji Group's ownership. In November 2007, the building's original antenna tower for WITL-FM was replaced via helicopter with a new antenna for WJZL (Now WLMI).[5]

Description

At 23 stories, and 297 feet (91 m), the brick and limestone-faced tower, with its tall, narrow profile topped with a spire and beacon, is a typical American skyscraper design of the Art Deco era of high-rise architecture. It includes four engraved panels in the portals of the main passenger elevators that reflect themes of labor and industry. The tower's facade consists of 654,000 bricks of 17 different colors. The building is occupied by a mix of office, retail, and government tenants. The two-story former banking lobby is now used as the main hearing room for the Michigan Senate.

The sculpture on the building, including the doors, was created by Ulysses Ricci.[6]

  • View from Grand Avenue
    View from Grand Avenue
  • West side
    West side
  • View of State Government Complex from Boji Tower
    View of State Government Complex from Boji Tower

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Dawe, Eric. "Lansing Celebrating 150 Years". WILX News. Archived from the original on 2010-01-22. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  3. "History of Local Skyscraper Reviewed; Work Begun in 1929". Lansing State Journal. 6 April 1931.
  4. Dozier, Vickki (26 January 2018). "From the Archives: Old banks and Michigan's first drive-in bank". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  5. Austerman, Mike (5 November 2007). "WJZL making progress on power increase". Michiguide. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  6. Hendry, L Fay (1980). Outdoor Sculpture in Lansing, photographs by Balthazar Korab. Okemos, Michigan: Iota Press. pp. 30–34. ISBN 978-0936412023.
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