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North American Building
North American Building.jpg
General information
Status Complete
Type Commercial offices
Architectural style Chicago school
Location 121 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 39°57′01″N 75°09′49″W / 39.9503°N 75.1637°W / 39.9503; -75.1637
Construction started 1900
Completed 1900
Height
Roof 81 m (266 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 21
Floor area 142,084 sq ft (13,200.0 m2)
Design and construction
Architect James H. Windrim
Developer Thomas B. Wanamaker

The North American Building is a very tall, historic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It stands at 121 South Broad Street and is about 81 meters (266 feet) high. This impressive building has 21 stories and was finished in the year 1900.

A Home for News

The North American Building was first built to be the main office, or "headquarters," for a newspaper called The North American. Thomas B. Wanamaker, who was the newspaper's publisher, asked for the building to be constructed. A publisher is someone who owns or runs a newspaper or magazine. Thomas was also the son of John Wanamaker, who started a famous department store.

Who Designed It?

A talented architect from Philadelphia named James H. Windrim (1840–1919) designed the North American Building. Architects are people who plan and design buildings. Windrim made sure the building was strong and looked good.

Building Style and Features

The North American Building is a great example of the Chicago school style of architecture. This style was popular around the late 1800s and early 1900s. Buildings in this style often have strong, clear lines and use steel frames to support their height.

Today, the North American Building is still used for commercial offices. It stands as an important part of Philadelphia's history and a reminder of its past.

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