NIAGARA FALLS — For years motorists entering the U.S. via the Rainbow Bridge would often point to the nine-story, green-glassed building just off the plaza and ask the customs inspector, “Is that a hotel?”

The visitor, of course, was referring to the former Occidental Chemical Center, an eye-catching office complex designed by Cannon Design Inc., the Grand Island-based firm.

In retrospect, it would have been ideal as a hotel with a rooftop restaurant affording a panorama of both sides of the river. In fact, after Occidental sold the property, a Buffalo area realtor had tried to interest major hotel chains in the site.

It was decided it would be cost-prohibitive to convert the structure so dramatically.

When the Oxy Center (locals called it the ‘Flash Cube”) was completed in 1980, it was touted as “one of the most energy efficient commercial buildings in the world.”

It was the first structure in North America to be built with what was known as a double-skin facade.

An engineer explained that the building was comprised of two layers of green-tinted insulating glass that allowed for 80 percent solar penetration as the exterior skin and one layer of clear glass as the interior skin.

Obviously the Cannon design team did an excellent job of capitalizing on the views of the Niagara Gorge by including floor-to-ceiling glazing on what would otherwise be just another nine-story office building. The louvers (over-lapping slats) were controlled by “intelligent” light sensors that changed with the weather, time of day and the season.

Another unique system, the louvers were always capable of fully closing to provide additional “insulation” during the winter.

There were other impressive features too that won Cannon several prestigious design awards from the American Institute of Architects and Illuminating Engineering Society, the Energy Conservation Award from the Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp., and the EPA Energy Star for 2001.

Today, the building is in sad shape, at least when compared to the day it opened as the regional offices of the Hooker Chemicals and Plastics Corp. After the company moved numerous personnel to Texas, the biggest tenant in the building was the U.S. Small Business Disaster Assistance Office. For a time, the U.S. Census Bureau also leased space.

For the record, it’s not all the fault of Frank Parlato, the long-time owner and operator who recently sold his controlling interest in the building (now One Niagara) to an investor group. The damage to the infrastructure was done before he arrived on the scene.

Huge problems with the property surfaced in 1999 when an international consortium planning to build the state-of-the-art AquaFalls, an underground aquarium on the site, failed to raise the funds to continue the work. Construction never got off the ground, or beyond the 45-foot excavation at the front of the building.

The initial stage work, however, left future occupants with a mess. Dust and dirt building up in the wall cavity forced maintenance crews to cover up areas with plywood and, as a result, air couldn’t be drawn into the facade. Chronic problems erupted because of overheating on the upper floors.

Soon the louvers stopped functioning, stuck in a horizontal position. Tenants were always complaining of being too hot or too cold.

So much for the energy efficiency feature that the Aqua Falls investors had destroyed in a matter of months.

As for the overall appearance of the exterior these days, that’s another story.

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VALID QUESTION: Ralph Lorigo, a Conservative Party candidate for governor, wants Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat running for the same post, to explain why he is hosting a birthday gala fundraiser for Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-NY, next month in New York City.

When Cuomo, the current state attorney general, launched his gubernatorial campaign he called for ethics reform.

Cuomo’s pledge rings hollow when you consider Rangel’s record. A 20-year member of Congress, he has been charged with ethics violations stemming from improperly leasing  rent-controlled apartments, improperly using Congressional stationary, failing to report rental income from a vacation property.

Lorigo is the Erie County Conservative Party candidate.

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WORD OF CAUTION: Residents in the neighborhood bounded by Whirlpool Street, Cedar and Pine avenues, and Main Street should be aware hawks have built a nest area near Park Place.

Louise and Tom Yots, longtime operators of a bed-and-breakfast, suggest that neighbors keep a close eye on their pets, especially the small ones.