Quick Facts
- Date: July 9, 1971 (topping‑out of Clark Tower’s structural frame). ([mallofmemphis.org](https://www.mallofmemphis.org/pmwiki.php/Main/DowntownMemphisTimeline?utm_source=openai))
- Location: 5100 Poplar Avenue, East Memphis (901). ([in-rel.com](https://in-rel.com/clark-tower-wraps-up-8-million-renovation/?utm_source=openai))
- Developer: William B. Clark Sr.; Architect: Robert Lee Hall. ([memphismagazine.com](https://memphismagazine.com/ask-vance/white-station-hospital/?utm_source=openai))
- Building data: 34 stories; approximately 400 ft including spire; roof height about 365 ft; floor area roughly 650,000 sq. ft. ([skyscrapercenter.com](https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/memphis?utm_source=openai))
Verified sources include the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) database and University of Memphis–linked archives and reporting. ([skyscrapercenter.com](https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/memphis?utm_source=openai))
The Story
On July 9, 1971, construction crews and local leaders marked a milestone on Poplar Avenue: the topping‑out of Clark Tower. The ceremony recognized completion of the building’s structural frame for what would become East Memphis’s signature high‑rise and one of the tallest buildings in Memphis history. Contemporary timelines compiled from newspaper archives record the date and event. ([mallofmemphis.org](https://www.mallofmemphis.org/pmwiki.php/Main/DowntownMemphisTimeline?utm_source=openai))
Clark Tower grew from developer William B. Clark Sr.’s vision to expand Class A office space beyond downtown, following his earlier White Station Tower project. Architectural records and local histories trace how the site initially circulated in the mid‑1960s as a proposed high‑rise hospital before plans shifted to offices; the executed design is credited to Memphis architect Robert Lee Hall. ([memphismagazine.com](https://memphismagazine.com/ask-vance/white-station-hospital/?utm_source=openai))
By the time the building opened, its profile—34 stories and about 400 feet to the top of the spire—made it a defining landmark outside the downtown skyline. CTBUH’s city database continues to list Clark Tower among Memphis’ tallest, underscoring the project’s place in Memphis history and the development of the Poplar corridor. ([skyscrapercenter.com](https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/memphis?utm_source=openai))
Legacy
Clark Tower helped anchor East Memphis as a major employment center and remains a touchstone along Poplar Avenue—visible from miles away and a reference point in local civic life. Renovations completed in the 2000s and 2010s have kept the tower active, with upgrades to lobbies, systems, and tenant amenities. Today it continues to host offices and event space with sweeping views of the Bluff City, from Beale Street to the suburbs. ([in-rel.com](https://in-rel.com/clark-tower-wraps-up-8-million-renovation/?utm_source=openai))
More than a construction milestone, the 1971 topping‑out marked a shift in how and where Memphis worked—an eastward expansion that remains part of the city’s built identity in the 901. ([memphismagazine.com](https://memphismagazine.com/ask-vance/white-station-hospital/?utm_source=openai))
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