Burk Burnett Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Burk Burnett Building
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Burk Burnett Building in 2010
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 Burk Burnett Building
Location in Texas
Burk Burnett Building
Location in the United States
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| Location | 500-502 Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1914 |
| Built by | Buchanan & Gilder |
| Architect | Sanguinet & Staats |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Neo-Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004151 |
| Added to NRHP | November 12, 1980 |
The Burk Burnett Building is a tall and historic building in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. You can find it in the lively Sundance Square area. This impressive building has twelve floors and stands about 156 feet (48 meters) tall! Today, the Worthington National Bank is located on its ground floor. The Burk Burnett Building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1980. This means it's officially recognized as a special place in history.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Building a Landmark
The Burk Burnett Building was designed by a famous architecture firm called Sanguinet & Staats. It was built in 1914. When it was finished, it became the tallest building in Fort Worth. It was also the city's very first skyscraper!
New Owners and Updates
When it first opened, a bank called the State National Bank used the building. However, that bank closed down in 1915. After that, a well-known rancher named Samuel Burk Burnett bought the building. He then renamed it the Burk Burnett Building.
The building has been updated a few times over the years. It had major renovations in 1980 and again in 1984. During the 1984 update, the beautiful old bank lobby was carefully restored. Later, in 2005, the Worthington National Bank also worked to restore the lobby, even hiring an artist named Xiang Xian to help.
Building Style and Design
A Classic Look
The Burk Burnett Building was the last of three similar buildings designed by Sanguinet & Staats. The other two were the ALICO Building in Waco (built in 1911) and the Rand Building in San Antonio (built in 1913).
This building is made in a neoclassical style. This means it looks back to ancient Greek and Roman designs for inspiration. It often features grand columns and balanced shapes.
What It's Made Of
The Burk Burnett Building has three main parts that look different:
- The bottom two floors are made of white terracotta and have strong granite columns.
- The middle eight floors are built with red brick. They have terracotta layers that separate each floor.
- The top two floors are also decorated with white terracotta, making the building look grand all the way to the top.
Interestingly, another building in Fort Worth, the Hilton Fort Worth Hotel, was built in 1919 by the same architects. It was designed to look a lot like the Burk Burnett Building!
