Reno is made up of architecture spanning from many different decades. Since building started in the Biggest Little City in the late 1800s, it hasn’t stopped. This has cultivated a variety of assorted architecture throughout the city, from different eras. A simple walk downtown reveals how old brick homes and colonial-revival style buildings have been turned into shops, offices, and fraternity houses.
While some of the oldest buildings and iconic motels have been torn down, some old homes are saved from development by moving them to a different neighborhood.
I’ve lived in Reno for over 10 years now and I’ve had the chance to see the everchanging city remodel year after year. I live in the outskirts of the city and attend the University of Nevada, Reno and I feel like a sight-seeing tourist on every commute. I love that the city combines different architectural styles.
The difference in styles between the 1900s and the 2000s has given Reno a unique and beautiful shape and a more than memorable cityscape. In 2018, the oldest building in Reno, the 1872 Masonic/Mercantile building, was torn down because it was reported it was no longer stable enough for renovation. It was sad to see it be taken down because it’s a reminder that many of the the older buildings can have expiration dates, unless there is resolve to save them.
Personally, I prefer the older styles of architecture because of elements like arches and linework that seem to be missing from more modern, blocked out buildings. Reno’s older buildings seem to have more of a sturdiness and permanence to them.
The Pioneer Center is a theater for a variety of shows and concerts but the building itself is as captivating as anything within it. The dome-like structure is reminiscent of a tent you’d see at a circus. As a local, this is one of my favorite places to pass by because of how much the shape and color stand out in the midst of multi-floor parking garages. The Pioneer center’s hidden attraction is a tiny shack a few feet away from the dome, with a door that leads down a steep flight of stairs. That’s the entrance to the Pioneer Underground that hosts the Reno Tahoe Comedy club.
This eye-catching, fully reflective building emerges straight up about 30 floors. The size and the glass construction contrasts with the nearby brick riverwalk. The infamous Space Whale sits right across from the building which offers a modern looking backdrop for the skateboarders and bicyclists that use the area.
This is only a parking garage with some of its letters fading but the material and shape shows the popularity of the reflective glass style in Reno.
Now a fraternity for women, the building itself was built in 1948 and is made of classic red brick. Many of the fraternities and the university utilize old buildings for housing.
The Washoe County Court House was built in 1910, in neoclassical style architecture. The courthouse sits among the newer office buildings as well as the older establishments around the riverwalk. Its intimidating columns frame the entrance and at sunset it is in the perfect location to have a halo of sun rays, only adding more to its intimidation.
The Trinity Episcopal Cathedral was built in 1920 and designed by Frederic DeLongchamps. The decorative windows and elongated shape draw you in with curiosity.
The Urban Vacation Resort Condos, a relatively new structure, uses bright colors and Reno-esque block style architecture. It looks like a resort but captures a sort of nostalgic feeling.
While the beauty of Reno’s historical buildings remains, the city is still always expanding and constructing, including a whole section of housing for students near campus. Most of the new projects are built in a modern style for efficiency, but seem less durable than the older buildings.