The architects of the Western Hills Pumping Station were Joseph G. and Bernard Steinkamp. The same firm turns out to have designed several other Cincinnati buildings I love, such as the Waldo apartments*, the Mercantile Library building, The American Building ... and, amazingly, Hinkle Hall, the Xavier University building modeled after the castle of St. Francis Xavier's family in Spain, where my own department is housed!
*Some sources credit the Waldo to Samuel Hannaford or Thomas and John Emery.
Some vintage photos of the pumping station under construction and newly built (source):
News story (source):
Get a load of the interior! (Source — well worth reading.)
W. LeMay has created a 3D model of this place.
W. LeMay has created a 3D model of this place.
Please tell me that building will be preserved as part of the National Registry of Historic Places! It's priceless and astounding.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope so. It seems to be an intact, functioning jewel. Kind of like a well-preserved 1936 typewriter.
DeleteA building of similar age and use at 2150 N Prospect in Milwaukee was repurposed and has hosted a succession of Japanese bistros (it's currently empty). Usually these kinds of things require the cooperation of local government (in the form of tax support) and business people willing to assume the financial risk.
DeleteGrand old functioning building. A far cry from the dry plain modern industrial buildings.
ReplyDeleteI too, hope it is preserved. Such fine buildings so often get demolished in the name of progress.
And oh the days when you could mark a noble civic sentiment with a bit of poetry!
ReplyDeleteInteresting work from an interesting era. I went to your links and had a look at their other work, which was very representative of the transition from classic revival to the "modern". Reminded me of the work of Louis Sullivan, in whose office Frank Lloyd Wright trained. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteThe interior is stunning, like a Roman bath or something!
ReplyDelete