Presented in this section are 12 additional Private buildings in the Cincinnati area that show Art Deco elements. Many companies chose a modern architectural style to convey a progressive forward-looking company image.
Keep in mid that the Art Deco name did not even surface until the late 1960’s. These were simply “modern” buildings of the day. Some of the early modern styles were referred to as as Moderne, Jazz Moderne, Zigzag Moderne, French Modern Style, Depression Modern and Universalism. Later, names like Art Moderne, Streamline Moderne and Mayan Revival were names used to describe the architectural style now in the wider category of Art Deco.
Please share information and photos of other buildings we may have left out of this comprehensive look at Cincinnati’s Art Deco architecture.
Please click on thumbnails to see the full gallery with captions.
Price Hill Historical Society, 3640 Warsaw Avenue, West Price Hill: The former Provident Bank at historic St. Lawrence Corner is now the home of the Price Hill Historical Society, who restored the formerly rundown building to its Deco-style elegance. The limestone façade is adorned with simple carvings.
Crosley Building, 1329 Arlington Street, Camp Washington, 1928 (Hannaford & Sons, architects): This ten-story former light industrial facility dominates the Camp Washington streetscape. It was built to house the design and manufacture of Crosley cars, radios and refrigerators as well as the studios of WLW and other broadcast stations. Art Deco detailing is visible on what is left of the street façade, as well as the tower.
Teamsters Building, 217 West Twelfth Street, OTR: This former Teamsters headquarters is believed to be a Victorian-era structure that later received an Art Deco/Moderne limestone façade. The metal casements, spandrels, granite entry surround and Teamsters logo bas-relief all appear to hail from the mid-twentieth century
Sears & Roebuck, Avondale, 1929: The Reading Road Sears store was Cincinnati’s first on a suburban site. After years of vacancy, it was renovated by the University of Cincinnati as its new Office for Innovation, winning an award from CPA. The tower was preserved, brick stripped off and reclad, and the Art Deco ornamentation carefully duplicated. A side addition built of glass and steel expanded the building’s footprint..
Klosterman Baking Company, 4760 Paddock Road: The Klosterman baking company has been baking tasty loaves at their Paddock Hills location since 1936. The two-story, Deco-influenced, industrial bakery is built of concrete block with incised piers, large glass-block windows, and original half-moon doors.
All Color photos ©2020 J. Miles Wolf
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