Gordon Brothers to Market Historic Office Building in Cleveland for Sale

Why It Matters

The transaction could catalyze downtown Cleveland’s revitalization by unlocking a prime, underutilized asset for mixed‑use or office reuse, while signaling investor appetite for legacy properties in secondary markets.

Key Takeaways

• 1.5 million sq ft, 21‑story historic office tower
• Designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
• Built 1920s, once world’s second‑largest office building
• Gordon Brothers appointed exclusive sale advisor
• Potential for mixed‑use redevelopment in downtown Cleveland

Pulse Analysis

The Huntington Building at 925 Euclid Avenue is a rare piece of American architectural heritage. Completed in the early 1920s by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, the 21‑story tower originally served as the Union Trust Building and was then the world’s second‑largest office edifice. Its limestone façade, ornate cornices, and grand banking hall exemplify the Beaux‑Arts style that shaped Cleveland’s skyline. Preservationists see the structure as a tangible link to the city’s financial past, requiring any redevelopment to balance historic integrity with modern functionality.

Gordon Brothers, a global asset‑recovery specialist, has been tapped as exclusive advisor to market the property, reflecting a growing appetite among investors for large, legacy office assets in secondary markets. The firm’s expertise in repositioning underperforming real estate positions it to attract a diverse pool of buyers—from institutional funds seeking stable cash flow to developers eyeing mixed‑use conversions. Nationwide, owners of historic towers are exploring adaptive‑reuse strategies to offset declining traditional office demand, and Cleveland’s central location offers strong transit links and a burgeoning tech ecosystem that could support new tenancy models.

The sale could become a catalyst for downtown Cleveland’s broader revitalization, as unlocking a 1.5 million‑square‑foot asset creates opportunities for job creation, increased tax revenue, and a boost to surrounding property values. If the building is repurposed into a mixed‑use hub, it would complement recent office‑to‑residential conversions and signal confidence in the city’s long‑term growth trajectory. Moreover, the transaction underscores a shift in commercial real estate, where historic properties are no longer liabilities but strategic platforms for diversified, experience‑driven tenancy in an evolving post‑pandemic market.