The United States Playing Card Company (historically known as Russell, Morgan & Company) was founded in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1885, the Russell, Morgan & Company introduced its signature “Bicycle” brand of playing cards which quickly became the most recognizable playing card in the world. By 1899, the United States Playing Card Company became the largest playing card manufacturer in the United States. Having outgrown their facilities in downtown Cincinnati, the leading card company announced that they were going to build a “colossal new factory building” in Norwood, Ohio. Designed by the famed Cincinnati architecture firm of Samuel Hannaford & Sons, the complex was constructed between 1899 to 1922 in the Italian Renaissance style. By 2009, the United States Playing Card Company abandoned the complex and in 2020 and the complex was threatened with demolition. Local developer, PLK Communities, salvaged the decaying complex and with the help of MSA Design, preserved four of the most iconic and beloved structures – the Lunch Room Building, the North Factory Addition, the Bell and Clock Tower, and the original Smokestack. Paying tribute to the complex’s historic architecture, the MSA Design team integrated the original building elements into the rehabilitation, creating a timeless connection between the new and the old.
Lunch Room Building
The one-story rectangular building historically known as the Lunch Room Building, remains in the northeast corner of the site. Originally constructed in 1903, the building was relocated in 1920 from the northwest corner of the property to its present location using logs and teams of horses. By honoring the original architecture features and design, MSA Design restored the building back to its original purpose, now housing 20,000 square feet of dining space known as the Gatherall Food Hall. Modern amenities and conveniences blend effortlessly with the building’s historic character, providing a unique dining experience.
North Factory Addition
Artfully blending the historic charm of the North Factory with modern design, MSA Design revitalized the once-vacant building into a lively mixed-use residential center. Constructed in 1920, the historic factory building underwent extensive renovation to preserve the overall historic character of the building. Today, residents can experience the rich history of the site through restored window openings, exposed concrete surfaces, robust concrete mushroom columns, exposed salt glazed brick walls, decorative brick spandrels, stone accents, and monogrammed cartouches.
Historic Bell and Clock Tower
At the focal point of the site is 120-foot bell and clock tower designed in the Italian Renaissance-style. Historically, the tower housed twelve carillon bells that were electronically connected to a company-owned radio station and were the first set of bells built for radio broadcasting. Constructed in 1922, the historic tower stands out as a prominent feature and maintains an engaging presence within the landmark complex. Key historic features of the tower, such as the original Roman bricks, stone quoining, bronze canopy, escutcheon plates, arched openings, stone acanthus leaf brackets, Byzantine capitals, and dentelated entablature, have been carefully preserved and contribute to the historic character of the complex. The recently restored tower serves as a beacon for this revitalized neighborhood.
Historic Power Plant Smokestack
The grand smokestack with an octagonal base and a tapper stack remains in the southwest corner of the site. Rising 160 feet into the air, the smokestack, completed in 1905, is visible throughout the Norwood neighborhood and along Interstate 71. As a symbol of the industrial complex, the smokestack was structurally reinforced, cleaned, and repointed, to ensure the longevity and stability within the historic industrial landscape.
A Catalyst
What could have been demolished and long-forgotten, the Factory 52 development serves as a catalyst for rejuvenating the eastern precinct of the city, offering a pedestrian-friendly community for residents and visitors with its blend of residential, retail, recreational, and outdoor spaces. Not only does the site invite residents of Norwood to return repeatedly, but it also emerges as a sought-after entertainment hub for neighboring communities. The development artfully integrates the site’s rich historical heritage, seamlessly weaving together existing landmark structures with carefully conceived new buildings, paying homage to the site’s history.