As big, notable buildings go,Tampa typically comes up short. The reality that the 31-story Rivergate Tower–aka the “beer can building”–is likely our most “iconic” is, well, humbling. And this just in: the 400 N. Ashley Drive tower, which was built in 1988, has just been sold. Again.
And sales always prompt context and reflection. Rivergate Tower was constructed for $150 million. Sale price was $70 million. That was then, and this isn’t. Also, it was designed by architect Harry Wolf to symbolize a lighthouse.
Alas, the “lighthouse building” never had a chance against the wise-guy moniker that has lived on through various buyer incarnations. Our edifice complex lives on.