A Gorgeous Deco Delight – The NiMo Building Syracuse NY

January 2018: Happy to report that this building is still there, still gorgeous! A national treasure!

Original 2012 post:

The Art Deco style, made popular in the 1920s and 1930s was probably the very first design style that made a much younger Mod Betty stop and say, whoa-hey! That stuff is cool! Since I was also an Art History major in college I can also spot the deco style a mile away, with its clean lines and geometric angles.

But even the old hand that I am, I was positively FLOORED when I saw the NiMo Building in Syracuse NY:

(Thanks so so much to Retro Roadpal TikiSoo  for showing us this gem!)

While the Chrysler building in New York City may get most of the glory for being the most well recognized deco building around, I will say that nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the sunset, laden with autumn orangey goodness, working its magic on the planes and surfaces of this building. I practically leaped out of the car and began snapping photos, and wasn't the only person there with a camera. With every inch that the sun set, another shadow was cast, making it even more beautiful.

So while we're envisioning the sun, glowingly highlighting this downtown delight, here is some background on this landmark building.

The building - originally known as the Niagara Hudson building was completed in 1932, and was home to the nation's largest electric utility company.

From SyracuseThenandNow.org:

Its ornamentation is, to say the least, opulent. In Syracuse Landmarks, Evamaria Hardin says, "The structural steel frame of the Niagara Mohawk Building is arranged in setbacks, is sheathed smoothly in aluminum, black glass and stainless steel combined with gray brick and polished stone, and is ornamented with chevrons, parallel bands, and zigzags."

Later renamed the Niagara Mohawk building, it is now owned by National Grid, but still retains the Niagara Mohawk name:

And, if you're looking for the building in or on the National Register of Historic Places, you'll see it referred to as the Niagara Hudson Building. The building was added to the Register in 2010, and this Flickr link shows some great interior shots and archival footage of the building from the National Register's photostream of the building.

One of the most striking features of the building is the sculpture that hovers (or looms, depending upon the lighting) above the entrance.

(Crazy how the reflections of the sun, just below his left wing, look like waves of electricity!)

With a height of more than 28 feet, this creature/man is known both as the "Spirit of Energy" or the "Spirit of Light." Click here to see progressive close-up views of this winged symbol (photos by David Bridges)

Speaking of light- it's interesting to point out that the building's deco exterior was lit up at night (being the home of an electricity provider this makes sense) but the building was darkened for blackouts and the lights removed during World War 2. The lights would remain off exterior for 50+ years, until the building was renovated in 1999. At that point, new exterior lighting was installed, with the lighting scheme created by Howard Brandston, who had also worked with the relighting of the Statue of Liberty.

I was so excited when we had the opportunity to drive back past the Nimo Building when it was all lit up. I think I could get my beach chair and just sit across the street and watch this building reflect the sunset, and go from absorbing the sun's rays to emitting glorious light rays of its own.

When referring to the building, Howard Brandston described the NiMo building as the most spectacular example of art deco architecture he'd ever seen, and I have to say, I agree! Make sure you check it out for yourself next time you're in Syracuse!