ALICO Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ALICO Building |
|
|---|---|
Upper floors of ALICO building
|
|
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Office |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Address | 425 Austin Street |
| Town or city | Waco, Texas |
| Country | United States of America |
| Coordinates | 31°33′25.2″N 97°7′55.2″W / 31.557000°N 97.132000°W |
| Current tenants | American-Amicable Life Insurance Company of Texas |
| Construction started | August 1910 |
| Opened | August 1911 |
| Renovated | 1966 |
| Cost | $755,000 ($19,730,407 adjusted to 2017 dollars) |
| Height | 282 feet (86 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Steel |
| Material | Brick, Terra Cotta |
| Floor count | 22 |
| Lifts/elevators | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Sanguinet and Staats |
|
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
|
|
| Official name: ALICO Building | |
| Designated: | 1982 |
| Reference #: | 5309000118 |
The ALICO Building is a 22-story office building in Waco, Texas. It stands at the corner of Austin and 5th Street in downtown Waco. This building is currently owned by the American-Amicable Life Insurance Company of Texas. At 282 feet tall, it is the tallest building in Waco.
Contents
History of the ALICO Building
Building's Early Days
The ALICO Building was finished in 1911. It was built by the Sanguinet & Staats architecture firm. The building was made for the Amicable Life Insurance Company. It cost about $755,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The whole building was completed in just one year. It is the second oldest skyscraper in Texas. The Praetorian Building in Dallas was built just one year before it.
Surviving the 1953 Tornado
In 1953, a very strong tornado hit downtown Waco. Many buildings were badly damaged. However, the ALICO Building was not heavily harmed. It swayed several feet when the tornado hit it directly. But the building was strong enough to avoid serious damage or falling down. This showed how well it was built.
Changes and Historical Recognition
In 1965, two insurance companies, Amicable Life Insurance Company and American Life Insurance Company, joined together. They became the American-Amicable Life Insurance Company. This company still uses the building today. In 1966, the building was updated. A big neon sign was added to the top. This sign shows the letters "ALICO."
The ALICO Building has been recognized for its history. In 1982, the Texas Historical Commission named it a historical landmark. In 2012, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important part of the Waco Downtown Historic District.
