Anson Mills Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mills Building
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Mills Building
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 Mills Building
Location in Texas
Mills Building
Location in the United States
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| Location | 303 N. Oregon St., El Paso |
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| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Henry C. Trost |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000130 |
| Added to NRHP | March 21, 2011 |
The Anson Mills Building is a very old and important building in El Paso, Texas. You can find it at 303 North Oregon Street. This building stands on the same spot where the Ponce de León ranch was way back in 1832!
A man named Anson Mills wanted a special building. He hired Henry C. Trost, a famous architect from the Trost and Trost firm, to design it. Henry Trost was a leader in using a strong building material called reinforced concrete in the area.
Built between 1910 and 1911, the Anson Mills Building was one of the first concrete-frame skyscrapers in the whole United States. It was also one of the biggest buildings made entirely of concrete. Standing 145 feet (44 meters) tall, this 12-story building was the tallest in El Paso when it was finished. The Trost and Trost architecture firm even had their offices there until 1920. The Mills family owned the building until 1965.
The building is on a corner across from San Jacinto Plaza. It has a cool, curved front that wraps around two sides. Many of Trost's buildings, including this one, look a bit like the "Chicago School" style of architecture. This style was made famous by architect Louis Sullivan.
Contents
The Amazing Anson Mills Building
The Anson Mills Building is not just old; it's a piece of history! It shows how buildings were made over 100 years ago. It's a great example of early modern architecture.
A Pioneer in Concrete Design
Henry C. Trost was a true innovator. He used reinforced concrete, which is concrete with steel bars inside it. This makes the concrete much stronger and able to hold up tall buildings. Using this material, the Anson Mills Building became one of the first skyscrapers built this way. It was a big step forward in how buildings were constructed.
A Landmark's Changing Look
Over the years, buildings sometimes get new looks. In 1974, the windows of the Mills Building were changed. New mirrored glass was put in, which made the building look very different. This change gave the historic building a more modern appearance for a while.
Recognized for its Engineering
Because of its special construction and history, the Mills Building received an important award. In 1981, the American Society of Civil Engineers named it a Texas Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. This means it's recognized as a very important example of engineering in Texas.
See also
