To spot The 800 Apartments, just look up-a strikingly tall, slender skyscraper with turquoise and aqua panels stands out above the treetops like someone dressed in '60s style at a modern party.
Standing here, it’s easy to see why locals call this the “Turquoise Tower of Power.” When The 800 first soared into the Louisville skyline in 1963, it was the tallest building in the whole city-a true celebrity on the block, towering at 29 stories, and shimmering with its iconic blue-green aluminum shell. Just imagine the buzz in the air as architects William Strudwick Arrasmith, joined by Chicago’s Loewenberg team, watched this futuristic beauty rise, step by concrete step. It wasn't just a looker, either-the Federal Housing Administration thought it was such a knockout that they gave it their first-ever Honor Award for superior design. Not bad for a building that cost $6 million to build-those penthouses up top must have pretty fancy rooftop parties!
But The 800 Apartments is more than just good looks. For years, it housed the city’s soundtrack, with G.I. Joe-sized radio transmitters perched on the roof and disc jockeys filling the ninth floor with music, stories, and, let’s be honest, probably pizza crumbs. Once filled with the hum of WLRS-FM, its hallways might have carried snippets of radio hits or the latest news. Today, after a whopping $10 million renovation, you’ll find modern, lively apartments and even a tasty Italian restaurant on the ground floor-so now you can admire the view with a slice of pizza in hand. The Turquoise Tower isn’t just part of Louisville’s skyline; it’s a real character in the city’s story, adding a pop of color and a lot of personality to SoBro.
