Sibley's, Lindsay and Curr Building, historic high-rise building in Rochester, New York
The Sibley's, Lindsay and Curr Building is a historic commercial structure in Rochester with a distinctive clock tower and Chicago School architectural style. Built starting in 1904 with steel frame construction, the building features large windows and ornamental details in Baroque and Renaissance styles, expanded in sections through 1924.
The building arose after a major fire in 1904 destroyed the original Sibley's department store, designed by architect J. Foster Warner. It expanded through successive additions to become one of the largest retail complexes between New York City and Chicago, operating under the Sibley name until 1989.
The building carries the name of Sibley's, a department store that drew shoppers across generations and became a social gathering place. Its clock tower and ornamental details served as a familiar landmark for Rochester residents navigating downtown, shaping how people experienced the commercial center.
The building is located on East Main Street in downtown Rochester and is easily accessible on foot, with retail shops and dining on the ground level and offices and residences in upper floors. Visitors can observe the historical architectural details from outside while exploring the surrounding neighborhood at their own pace.
The building once housed a State University campus location for Monroe Community College starting in 1991 before the college relocated to a new downtown site. This unexpected use shows how the structure adapted beyond its retail origins to serve educational purposes.
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