Griffith Building

The Griffith Building, also known as the Griffith Piano Company Building, is located at 605-607 Broad Street by Military Park in the city of Newark in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. It was built in 1927 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 1984, for its significance in architecture, commerce, and music.^[4] It was added as a contributing property to the Military Park Commons Historic District on June 18, 2004.^[5]

Griffith Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Griffith Building in 2020
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Location	605-607 Broad Street Newark, New Jersey
Coordinates	40°44′27″N 74°10′11″W
Area	0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built	1927
Architect	George Elwood Jones
Architectural style	Gothic
Part of	Military Park Commons Historic District (ID04000649[1])
NRHP reference No.	84002641[2]
NJRHP No.	1263[3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 24, 1984
Designated CP	June 18, 2004
Designated NJRHP	April 17, 1984

History and description

Detail of entryway

The Griffith Piano Company was founded in 1911 by Parker O. Griffith. The building was designed by local architect George Elwood Jones (1886–1952), construction started in 1927, and opened on June 1, 1928.^[4] It has 14 floors and is 64.01 m (210.0 ft) tall.^[6] The company erected the building as a showroom, workshop, office tower and recital auditorium.^[7] Under the direction of Mrs. Parker O. Griffith, a foundation supported by the company was responsible for the direction, support, and programming at Newark Symphony Hall.^[8][9]

Plans to renovate the building into apartments have been proposed but have yet to bear fruit.^[10][11][12]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New Jersey
• List of tallest buildings in Newark