Look! Up in the Sky! It’s the Superman Building

The iconic Industrial Trust Building in Providence got its nickname from its similarity to the Daily Planet structure famously portrayed in the Superman comic strip

Kenneth C. Zirkel/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Share
Kenneth C. Zirkel/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Look! Up in the Sky! It’s the Superman Building
Copy

Did you know that Rhode Island has a building right out of a comic book? Welcome to the Industrial Trust Building in Providence, aka the Superman Building. This 26-story building was completed in 1928 and was inhabited by banks until 2013. This beautiful art deco building got its nickname because it looks identical to the Daily Planet headquarters made famous by the Superman comic strip. But that’s not the only cool thing about this super building.

You may recognize the architectural style as it looks very similar to New York City’s most iconic skyscrapers — the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, but the Industrial Trust Building predates both of them by two years!

Get the full story in the reel below.

Rhode Island’s senators say the Trump Justice Department bypassed a bipartisan process in appointing Charles ‘Chas’ Calenda, calling him unqualified for the top federal prosecutor role
‘I don’t have an additional $900 lying around in my family budget to pay for this’
Research from Salve Regina University shows many libraries across southern New England are dealing with employee burnout and high rates of turnover as they try to adapt to modern-day patron needs
For this year’s final episode of the Weekend 401, we have some New Year’s tips — from Deer Tick at the Uptown Theater, to the last Waterfire of the year, to the 30th annual ‘Moby-Dick’ marathon at the Whaling Museum. Plus: kick off the new year with an ice-cold splash at First Beach
The downtown landmark lit up again this holiday season, as its new owner hopes to reopen the building as art studios in early 2027
Seneca Falls, New York, may not have the only claims on the film