Shelby County Office Building

This building stands on Poplar between Second and Third Streets.  It was built in the 1950's as an office building for the Shelby County government.  A newer county building was later constructed as part of the Civic Center Plaza project in the 1960's.  This building has since housed a number of county offices, including the Shelby County Election Commission.  The upper floors featured elaborate grillwork over the windows.  The grillwork was removed in 2010 during renovations.

Sterick Building

The Sterick Building is an imposing 29 story tower located at Third and Madison in downtown Memphis.  It was known as "the Queen of Memphis" when completed in 1930 and was supposedly the tallest building in the South at the time.  Its name is a contraction of the building's original owners, Sterling and Hedrick.  The building eventually fell into decline and has been vacant since the 1980's.  The Sterick Building's future is uncertain.

Former C&I Bank Building

This wedge-shaped building was completed in 1974 as a C&I Bank.  It was most recently a Bank of America branch.  It closed several years ago and is now being developed as the campus of a specialized music school.  The building features a large atrium facing Madison Avenue.  Once filled with trees, plants, and a fountain -- the atrium is now empty.  This building won many awards in its time and was designed by Memphis architect Francis Gassner.

Civic Center Plaza

Civic Center Plaza includes Memphis City Hall, the Clifton Davis/Odell Horton Federal Building, TN state office building, and Shelby County administrative building.  It was developed in the 1960's as part of an urban renewal effort.  A Main Street trolley stop with clock tower was later added along the stretch of Main Street that runs through the plaza.  There are also fountains and numerous planters and trees.  City hall is by far the most interesting building architecturally.  It was completed in 1966.

Criminal Justice Center (201 Poplar)

My day job requires routine trips to the Shelby County Justice Center (more commonly known as the Criminal Justice Center or 201 Poplar).  It was also known as the "glamour slammer" when it opened in the early 1980's.  I suppose that's because it was pretty nice for a criminal court/jail complex.  The 12 story building also houses the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Office, DA's Office, and multiple other law enforcement-related offices.
One interesting aspect of the building is that it was built around an existing church.  There is also a heliport on the roof.