McKinley Tower Apartments, Historic residential tower in downtown Anchorage, United States.
McKinley Tower Apartments is a 14-story apartment block at 337 East Fourth Avenue, designed in 1950 by Earl W. Morrison for MacDonald Architects of Seattle. Its massing and detailing match Morrison's Inlet Towers in Anchorage and the Mendenhall Tower in Juneau. The building was gutted and stood windowless for about two decades before seismic reinforcement and remodeling brought it back into residential use.
Built in 1950 as the 14-story Mt. McKinley Building, it was designed by Earl W. Morrison for MacDonald Architects of Seattle. Damaged in the 1964 Alaska earthquake, it sat unused until attorney Neil S. Mackay bought it at auction, renamed it the McKay Building and converted it into state offices and a penthouse. Condemned in 1982, it stood gutted and windowless for two decades before renovation and listing on the National Register in 2008.
The building shows how mid-century residents in Anchorage wanted to live, with design that brought modern comfort to a growing city. Its downtown location reflects how urban housing developed in Alaska's largest city.
The building sits on East 4th Avenue in the downtown area and is easy to reach on foot if you are exploring the city center. Keep in mind that this is a private residential building and is not open for general public tours.
The building's architect, Earl W. Morrison, designed it for MacDonald Architects of Seattle, the same firm behind the nearly identical Inlet Towers at 1020 W. 12th Avenue. Morrison also shaped the Mendenhall Tower in Juneau, Mary Frances Towers in Ketchikan and the Cathedral Arms in Sitka.
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