During the first half of the last century, the "art deco" style reigned supreme, influencing everything from automobiles to clothing and architecture. While there are other examples of the style, none come close to the Niagara Mohawk Building on Erie Boulevard in Syracuse Now the local headquarters of National Grid, the building opened at the ehight of the Great Depression. This was the look of the "city of tomorrow", the bold style of "Buck Rogers". And it seemed to give people a sense of confidence in the future. "I think the company intended to establish a building and something that people could turn to and look to with hope and pride in their community," unofficial company historian Bob Dischner says. "You expect Dick Tracy to come around the corner at any minute. It's art deco style," he said, "it's a proud confident style, and I think it was really a roaring 20's kind of model." When opened in 1932, it was the ultimate expression of modernism. A 114 foot stepped pyramid of brick, Crucible-made stainless steel and 8 tons of heat resistant glass. At the center of it all, a winged, helmeted figure stares down from his perch at the pinnacle of power.