To spot Rivergate Tower, just look ahead for a towering, perfectly round skyscraper with a light stone exterior that looks a bit like a giant can standing tall overlooking the river.
Welcome to the Rivergate Tower, Tampa’s famous “Beer Can Building!” Imagine standing here in 1988 as the limestone giant rose up, its shape meant to be a lighthouse, casting a guiding glow over the city’s skyline. The architect, Harry Wolf, built each tile and window just a little bigger than its neighbor, all following the magical Fibonacci sequence-nature’s favorite math trick! The building’s skin is made of limestone from France and Texas, making it one of the tallest limestone buildings on Earth. Once the grand headquarters for North Carolina National Bank, folks spent $150 million making sure it turned heads and, frankly, caused a few double-takes from riverwalk joggers every morning. Can you believe its parking garage holds 731 cars under your feet?
But the fortunes of buildings change-fast forward to 2011, when it was snapped up for just $22 million in a foreclosure sale. Through it all, Rivergate Tower stood strong, bringing home a big shiny trophy-the 1993 National Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects. On a lighter note, people still giggle about its “Beer Can” nickname, but it’s got brains and beauty, having made the Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places list. If you peek around, you’ll see a cube-shaped neighbor, home to the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, and just beyond, Curtis Hixon Park and the bustling Riverwalk. Now, who wouldn’t want to say their office is in a landmark famous for being both a mathematical marvel and possibly the world’s classiest beer can?
