Occidental Life Building facts for kids
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Occidental Life Building
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| Location | 119 3rd Street SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
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| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | Henry Charles Trost W. Miles Britelle |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001805 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 30, 1978 |
The Occidental Life Building is a very old office building in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It's known for its unique look. The building's style is called Venetian Gothic Revival. This means it looks a bit like old buildings in Venice, Italy, especially the famous Doge's Palace.
Many people think this building is one of the most famous landmarks in Albuquerque. Some even say it's "unique in the country" because of its special design.
The building was designed by Henry C. Trost. It first opened its doors in 1917. Sadly, a big fire in 1933 badly damaged the inside. But the strong outer walls stayed standing. The building was then rebuilt. The new architect, W. Miles Brittelle, even changed the roof to make it look even more like the Venetian style. Later, in 1981, the inside was changed again to add a second floor.
You can find the Occidental Life Building in Downtown Albuquerque. It's listed on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties since 1973. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's an important historical place.
Contents
Building History
Early Days and Design
The Occidental Life Building was finished in 1917. It was built to be the main office for the Occidental Life Insurance Company. This company was started in 1906 by important local business people.
Henry C. Trost was the main architect for the building. His company was based in El Paso. Trost designed many buildings in Albuquerque. These include the Rosenwald Building, the First National Bank Building, and the Sunshine Building.
The idea for the building's unusual Venetian Gothic style came from George Roslington. He was a vice president at Occidental Life. He was originally from England.
Grand Opening and Early Use
The building officially opened on August 1, 1917. About 1,000 people came to the evening ceremony. This was during World War I. So, the event included songs like Rule, Britannia! and La Marseillaise.
Besides Occidental Life, many other businesses rented offices there. These included other insurance companies. There were also savings and loan companies, real estate agents, and an engineering firm.
The 1933 Fire and Rebuilding
A fire started in the Occidental Life Building early on April 25, 1933. It caused about $100,000 in damage. Firefighters worked until noon to put it out. Most of the inside was destroyed. However, the outside walls remained standing.
Newspapers reported that the fire likely started in the roof area. This fire happened just hours after another famous Albuquerque building burned. Because of this, some people thought it might have been arson, which means setting a fire on purpose.
After the fire, the building was rebuilt. W. Miles Brittelle from an Albuquerque firm designed the changes. It reopened in the spring of 1934. Brittelle changed the roofline to look more like the Doge's Palace. He added a fancy border and decorative spikes called finials.
The inside office space was also made larger. The building's structure was updated to strong steel. In 1981, the inside was changed again. A second floor was added within the original building.
Building Architecture
The Occidental Life Building has a Venetian Gothic Revival style. This style is very rare in New Mexico. The Albuquerque Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission has called it "unique in the country." Another building with a similar style, the Baum Building in Oklahoma City, was torn down in the 1970s.
Special Features
The most important part of the building is its white terra cotta outside. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay. This white facade covers the south and east sides of the building.
The facade looks like the Doge's Palace in Venice. It has rows of pointed arches. These are called Venetian Gothic arches. There are also windows shaped like four-leaf clovers, called quatrefoil windows. After the 1934 rebuilding, a decorative border with finials was added.
The spaces between the arches, called spandrels, are decorated. The tops of the columns, called capitals, also have fancy flower designs. The rounded corners of the building have pointed towers. The tiles used for the outside were made by the Denver Terra-Cotta Tile Company.
See also
In Spanish: Occidental Life Building para niños
