the old kodak building

THE OLD
KODAK BUILDING
A KIRK FAMILY INVESTMENT PROVES THERE’S LIFE AFTER KODACHROME
As anyone who moves to Findlay quickly learns, things are not
named for what they are but rather what they used to be. And
so it goes with 1100 East Main Cross Street, which while named
“Riverside Suites,” is almost always referred to as, “The Old
Kodak Building.” In time, I would become increasingly curious
about this building and its history. What I discovered is that it
tells a very interesting story with lessons on technology, the
consumer, and the entrepreneurial spirit.
A Kodak K-14 Film Processing Machine (front/back). Units such as these
were used to process film at The Old Kodak Building in Findlay.
Photographer: Michael Spear Hawkins. All rights reserved.
THE GOLDEN AGE OF KODAK
In 1955, doors opened at 1100 East Main Cross Street. Then
owner, Eastman Kodak, commissioned the building as a
processing center for its popular Kodachrome film.1 Kodachrome,
which was invented in 1935, was the long-preferred film for
both cinematography and still photography. It was the film used
by photographer Steve McCurry to capture the iconic image of
“Afghan Girl” appearing on the cover of National Geographic
magazine in 1985. It was also used for Marilyn Monroe’s first
nudes.2 But its credits certainly do not end there. A song by Paul
Simon was named after it. So too was a state park.
the development of its films at labs it owned and operated
throughout the world. In 1998, Qualex, Inc. began assuming
responsibility for the processing facilities under a joint venture
arrangement between Kodak and Fuqua Industries. At its peak,
Qualex operated 53 film-processing facilities, which included
the Findlay location.
THE END OF FILM PROCESSING
With competition from Fuji and others in the 1980s along with
the emergence of digital cameras in the 1990s, demand for film
processing began to drop off precipitously. In response, Qualex
was forced to begin
consolidation of its
processing facilities.
Sadly, the Findlay
location was not
immune. In early 1995,
Qualex Vice President,
Jim Hewitt, announced
its closure. Work at the
facility would officially
end in March of that
Rolls of Kodak Kodachrome film.
year, leaving 139
employees out of a job.
Developing Kodachrome film was no easy task, however. The
process, which even had a name,3 required complex machines
and technicians skilled in chemistry. For years Kodak handled
Kodak breaks ground at 1100 East Main Cross.
Photo courtesy of the Hancock Historical Museum.
The photo sequence, which would yield the famed “Golden Dreams” and “A New Wrinkle”
images, was taken by Tom Kelley on May 27, 1949, using 8x10 Kodachrome film. Marilyn was
paid $50.00 for the shoot.
3
There were various iterations, but the last version in use by Kodak was identified as the “K-14
Process.” According to historical records, the film development processes used at The Old
Kodak Building included the K-12 Process, the K-14 Process and the Ektachrome Film Process.
2
Prior to this, the property was undeveloped and used as a farm or field. It did, however,
have an interesting connection with the Civil War. Named “Camp Vance,” in honor of
early Findlay settler, Wilson Vance, the property served as training grounds for the 21st
Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
1
More plant closings would follow as consumer preference for
digital photos began to outpace that of film.4
In December 2008, Qualex announced the closure of the last
of its facilities, essentially ending send-out film development
by Kodak. A year later, Kodak declared that it would no longer
manufacture Kodachrome film due to declining demand.
By 2010, only one Kodak-certified facility remained for
Kodachrome film: Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas.5
With continued investment, and bold determination, the Kirk
Family would go on to transform the property from its industrial
roots. The building now serves as one of Findlay’s premier office
complexes, housing everything from Fortune 500 companies
to small, entrepreneurial start-ups. If only Kodak were there to
capture it all on film...
THE OLD KODAK BUILDING GETS A NEW OWNER
Within the same year of Qualex announcing its closure, the Kirk
Family would go on to become the next owner of The Old Kodak
Building.6 An appraisal report performed in 1995, the year of
the sale, notes the condition of the building at the time:
The property consists of an irregular 21.02 acre parcel
of land improved with a one and two story masonry
industrial building erected in 1955 and containing
63,450 SF… The site is typical of the area and is
functionally adequate for a variety of improvements. It is
noted that the subject site was reportedly contaminated
in the past with some types(s) of organic waste.
In the years that followed, the Kirk Family would undertake
exhaustive environmental research and remediation at the
property.7 Phase I and Phase II assessments were completed,
asbestos was abated, and contaminated soils were removed.8
So comprehensive were these efforts that, in 2002, the Ohio EPA
issued a formal Covenant Not to Sue, essentially establishing the
property as “clean.”
The Old Kodak Building reborn as “Riverside Suites”.
By, Christian H. Pedersen
About the Author:
Christian serves as Senior Executive and General Counsel with
The Kirk Family of Companies. He, among other things, oversees
management and leasing of the Kirk Development property
holdings, which includes The Old Kodak Building.
Kodak attempted to buffer the impacts of the closures by introducing a K-Lab Processor for use by independent labs. While
boasting many advantages over the traditional K-14 machine, the K-Lab units never took off like Kodak predicted.
5
Dwayne’s stopped accepting Kodachrome film for processing later that year.
6
Title was initially taken through Kirk Family entity, Findlay Machine & Tool, Inc. In 2003, ownership was transferred to Kirk
Family entity, JDP Ventures, LLC, which does business as “Kirk Development.”
7
Much of this work would be undertaken by OHM Corp., a publicly traded environmental response company which brothers James,
Joseph, and William Kirk began in the 1970s together with their father, Robert “Bob” Kirk.
8
In all, roughly 123 tons of soil was removed from the site under OHM Corp.’s remediation plan. Contaminated soils were
disposed of at a certified facility in New York.
4