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It's been called various things by various people:
"The Darth Vader Tower."
"The Box That One Parkway Place Came In."
"Awesome."
"Beautiful."
"A real landmark."
"The Highest Building in Missouri."
By whatever name or distinction, certainly Springfield's 21-story Hammons Tower is impressive to the eye. Impressive enough to cause one observer to note, only half-jokingly, that it's the answer to the riddle, "What's big and black and viewed all over?"
The Tower's dark bronze glass exterior, chosen by Hammons staff architect Steven Minton and Hood-Rich Architects, is purposely by design, developer John Q. Hammons said.
"I didn't want it to look like the other buildings in University Plaza," Hammons said.
At that, he has succeeded. If not by stature alone (the 21-story Tower is six stories taller than the One Parkway Place condominiums, the next-tallest of the five University Plaza buildings), then certainly by design and decor.
A two-story lobby introduces visitors to polished red Italian marble floors, red oak paneling and South American black granite, with brass rails lining dual staircases.
Tenants receive amenities of nightly janitorial service, paid utilities, a parking garage and basement health club, complete with lap pool, Nautilus and free weights, a laundry room and a mirrored exercise room.
It's all crowned with the Tower Club, an exclusive restaurant and lounge atop 19 floors of suites and office space. With a limit of 2,000 members (by invitation only), the Tower Club will be the site of several grand opening parties this week.
The Tower Club aside, the Tower's 234,800 square feet of office space is...