Book Tower gets power washed for the first time in years

So fresh, so clean

By Robin Runyan Jun 2, 2017, 4:09pm EDT

One of the most anticipated renovations in the city has to be Book Tower, which has been vacant for years. Bedrock acquired the building in 2015 and they’ve begun work on the exterior. This spring, that means a power washing for the first time in a very long time. How long has it been? It’s safe to say decades, and Bedrock was not able to find out a date. (If you know, let us know!) The difference is striking.

According to a Bedrock representative, the north elevation cleaning started earlier this week and will take approximately 3.5 weeks for the initial clean. The east elevation has roughly 1-2 weeks of cleaning remaining. Masonry restoration will be ongoing throughout the year after both elevations are initially cleaned, along with restoration of the fire escape.

The full renovation (which details are still fuzzy), including the neighboring Book Building, is expected to cost around $400 million and could be finished sometime in 2019. Book Tower was designed by Louis Kamper and opened in 1926. There could have been a neighboring tower, but the Great Depression stalled those plans.