Creeping middle age and “economic pragmatism” eventually forced me to move on from high rise window cleaning. However, as a lifelong lover of my hometown of Indianapolis and of early to mid-twentieth century architecture, despite the often grueling and dirty nature of the work, being able to take in the city from so many vantage points over the years was a fringe benefit that kept me “hanging around” that line of work through much of my younger years. I took quite a few photos at least, and was featured in two separate local TV interviews (WRTV and WXIN) and had my picture in the Star and News several times.

Regarding the “When” building, I believe it was as late as the late ’90s when it was finally demolished. At the time, it was said to have been the oldest surviving building in the Mile Square, other than Christ Church on the Circle (1870). Built in 1874, when I was last in the “Ober Building” as it was known since the ’40s (which is when it was “modernized” aka: ruined), it was in deplorable shape. The floors creaked and slanted, doors stuck and a musty odor was everywhere. Regardless, had it not been so badly altered in the ’40s, it would have been worth saving. As it stood in the ’90s, regardless its historical significance, razing it unfortunately was the best option really.

I, like you, appreciate the somewhat austere (taken as a whole) exterior look of the building, and like how you describe its lobby features. Along with ample use of white marble, the heavy use of contemporary dark wood panels and stainless steel trim impart a sense of order and stability sought after in public buildings. A noteworthy design feature are the stainless spandrel pieces that wrap the limestone clad auditorium (City-County Council chambers) exterior, and then continue uninterrupted “though” the lobby glass and across the ceiling of the Market St. lobby. Having worked on the building many times and also often having considered its assets and liabilities, I believe replacing all the exterior glass on the tower (which would include scrapping those tons of aluminum screens and their tracks, which might help defray remodeling costs), including the spandrel or “blind glass,” with modern energy efficient windows would greatly improve the look of the building. Although I can relate to the intent, especially in light of the time in which is was built, the dark gray “color” scheme is maybe the building’s worst feature now. Taking into account its high rise neighbors, I believe a greenish-blue hue would best compliment the building while keeping its design unaltered. Or perhaps to play off the nearby First Indiana Tower (now M&I Bank), a dark copper hue. However, two things I’d be for changing more radically would be to remodel the observatory roof, with its series of arches that edge close to ’60s “Googie” style commercial architecture, by merely cladding over that on all four sides with metal panels in some configuration. The other thing that I wouldn’t mind seeing given the heave-ho is the crumbling and underutilized courtyard that sets atop the underground parking garage facing Washington St.

One last thing. In hindsight, after seeing photos of the last days of the old Marion County Courthouse, where it still stood with the nearly completed C.C. Bldg. looming over it, how cool would it be if they would have left the courthouse there and refurbished it? A stark contrast to be sure, but while there was no reason to do so, it certainly would seem the C.C. Bldg. pays homage to the old courthouse in its design. Like the courthouse, it has a main tower flanked by two lower wings. Even the roof of the C.C. Bldg. observatory seems to evoke (however abstractly) the French Mansard roof of the courthouse. As such, the two would have complimented one another to a degree. That also would have helped to accentuate the fact that it’s the C.C. Bldg’s Market St. Entrance that was always meant to be the main entrance, not the south lobby doors. Thanks again for the site and this article.