Cincinnati 2017...III

On my last day in Cincinnati, I had to check out buildings by two of my favorite architects…Frank Gehry and the late Zaha Hadid. The first stop was at the University of Cincinnati to photograph Frank Gehry’s Albert H. Vontz Center for Molecular Studies. If you’re familiar with Mr. Gehry’s work, you know he’s known for his twisted steel and bricks. Next was César Pelli's Aronoff Center For The Arts with its dramatic glass, stainless steel and brick facades making it a vibrant modern counterpoint to the buildings that surround the Center. Up the street was my girl Zaha Hadid's Rosenthal Center For Contemporary Art. Nicknamed “The Queen of the Curve”, this was her first American project. The design features include "Urban Carpet", "Jigsaw Puzzle" and "Skin/Sculpture". Ms. Hadid died of a heart attack in March 2016. I was honored to be photographing one of her best works. My next stop was Carew Tower and its spectacular outdoor observatory deck. The 49-story, 574-foot tall building completed in 1930 is in the heart of downtown. It overlooks the Ohio River waterfront, and is the second tallest building in the city. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 19, 1994. From the observatory deck, there were sweeping 360 degree panoramic views of the city and even views of the Covington, Kentucky and Newport, Kentucky skylines.

Once back on the ground, I continued my final walking tour (at this time) of Cincinnati. I walked past the Potter Stewart United States Courthouse where I caught a Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar to the other side of downtown. I stopped and checked out the Duke Energy Convention Center on Elm Street. Across the street is the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati and its odd shaped structure that I couldn’t resist photographing. My next stop was the massive Cincinnati Music Hall, which is continuing its $135 million dollar renovation. I can’t wait until it’s done…I have to go back to check it out. Down the street was the Hamilton County Memorial Building, more commonly called Memorial Hall. It was built by the Grand Army of the Republic and Hamilton County in 1908 as a memorial to the military of the city and county. Next I head over to the sprawling Proctor and Gamble Company headquarters and its Twin Towers. Across the street is the Cincinnati Masonic Center. Down the street, I wanted to photograph the Historic Taft Theatre(1928), but two huge fire trucks were out front and in the way. Winding down, my next stop was over to Plum Street where I was able to photograph City Hall, St. Peter In Chains Cathedral and Plum Street Temple. The Historic Lyric Piano Company Building was next. The Lyric Piano Company was a subsidiary of the Ralph Wurlitzer Company and Lyric Pianos were made there from 1909 until its demise in 1937 due mainly to the Great Depression. The Cincinnati Athletic Club is a historic building downtown. It was built for a club of the same name. Founded in 1853 by a group of Cincinnati elites including Rutherford B. Hayes, the society chose to erect a new headquarters in 1902. And in recognition of its distinctive and historically significant architecture, the club building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Back on the Cincinnati Riverfront, I make my way to the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, a yellow twin span steel tied arch bridge crossing the Ohio River. Sitting on the banks of the Ohio River is the Historic Showboat Majestic river boat, the last and oldest American floating theater. Heading back downtown to my hotel, I stop one last time to photograph the JACK Casino.