State Tower Building, Syracuse

The State Tower Building, completed in 1928, is Syracuse’s tallest structure and a lasting emblem of the city’s early 20th-century ambition. Rising approximately 312 feet with around 23 floors, the tower stands at the intersection of Genesee, Warren, and Water streets, on a site once occupied by the Bastable Theatre before it burned down in 1923.

Designed by the firm Thompson & Churchill, the building was commissioned by Central Offices and conceived as a modern office tower rather than a replacement theater. Its steel-and-concrete frame is clad in limestone, terra-cotta, and brick, with the facade's color subtly lightening toward the top-a clever Art Deco technique to enhance the illusion of height.

Originally an all-office building, the State Tower was notable for its design features, including setback upper floors that gave individual tenants private, well-lit spaces and even a full-service restaurant on a rooftop deck above the tenth floor. Early construction also featured hollow wall chambers for insulation and innovative lighting access, making it a progressive workplace for its time. With roughly 130,000 square feet of floor space and a direct connection to a parking garage, it was built for the bustling energy of downtown Syracuse.

In 2016, the building underwent a major transformation when new owners redeveloped the upper floors into upscale residential apartments. Today, only the first eight floors are retained for office use, while the rest offer luxury living high above the city. The building remains a key architectural landmark and a contributing property to the Hanover Square Historic District.