The glittering tower, set back from the street, began the transformation of “the Square,” the prime intersection of Trade and Tryon streets at the heart of the city. From its completion in 1974 to 1987, its 40 stories made it the tallest building in the state. Earlier in the twentieth century, Greensboro and Winston-Salem had competed with Charlotte for the status of having the tallest building in the state. Charlotte captured the prize with this building and has maintained that status with ever taller buildings. Thompson, Venchett, and Stanbach (now TVS) was and is a major Atlanta architectural firm with an international practice. A recent ranking listed the 1974 skyscraper 8th in height in the state; the tallest is now cited as the Bank of America Corporate Center (1992) in Charlotte at 60 stories.