Tag Archives: architeaser

April 8 Architeaser

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MannonMainThis is one of the architectural flourishes on this building at 317 Main Street.  Designed by architect George R. Mann, the building was built in 1906 as the flagship of the Gus Blass Department Store.  It operated in that capacity until 1972.  It later served as a bank facility until the late 1990s.  Now it is the anchor of a redevelopment on Main Street.  It is now known as Mann on Main, in tribute to the architect who designed not only this building but many others downtown.

This building is one of Little Rock’s most architecturally significant buildings and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

April 5 Architeaser

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IMG_4706The above rounded glass blocks are from the Main Street structure now commonly called the Boyle Building.   Built in 1909 as the State National Bank Building, by 1916 it became known as the Boyle Building.  The 12-story, approximately 100,000 square foot building was designed by Little Rock architect George R. Mann.  It was the tallest building in the state from 1909 until the Donaghey building was completed in 1926.

 

April 4 Architeaser

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IMG_4699This two-toned and two-surfaced brick work is an early example of using different surfaces to showcase a building in a fairly simple and inexpensive manner.  This is from the Fulk building at 3rd and Main Streets. The building was built after the February 1900 fire which destroyed parts of South Main Street.

The building is on land that once belonged to Dr. Matthew Cunningham. The first Little Rock Council meeting took place at Dr. Cunningham’s house when it was on this property.

This building is one of several being envisioned for new life as part of the Creative Corridor plan along Main Street.

April 3 Architeaser

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ArkGazToday’s Architeaser is a corner of the 1908 Arkansas Gazette building.  Now part of the eSTEM campus, from 1908 through 1991, it was home to the Pulitzer prize winning Arkansas Gazette.

The building was designed by Little Rock architect George R. Mann.  In 1976 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

 

Architeaser: April 2

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IMG_4670This is the side view of the second floor balcony of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette building at Capitol and Scott Streets.  It is interesting to note that this is one of the few non-governmental buildings to fly a US flag.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette building was built in 1904 to house the first YMCA program in Arkansas.  The YMCA–Democrat Building was built in 1904. The building was designed by Little Rock architect, Charles L. Thompson, in a Renaissance Revival style. Following the relocation of the YMCA to Broadway in 1928, the building was acquired in 1930 by K. August Engel to house the Arkansas Democrat.  In 1991, the name of the building was changed to reflect the new name of the newspaper.

Architeaser: April 1

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IMG_4668The Architeaser feature returns.  It starts with a recent Culture Vulture discovery along Main Street.  On the eastern side of the 500 block of Main, there is a building with six of these classical figures looking out. They are on the second floor level, partially obscured from the street level by an architectural awning.

The building was built in 1925 and sits at what was once 505 and 507 South Main.  Technically that is still the address, but in 1986 this building became part of a block long redevelopment.  The facade of this building and another from the 1920s were retained. But the interiors were gutted and combined with the new buildings which were built on the rest of the block.

Today much of the building is occupied by state offices.  The building is in the midst Mayor Mark Stodola’s Creative Corridor initiative.  Though the building itself is not in the plans, the plans for landscaping the block would enhance the building and perhaps draw more attention to these wonderful treasures.

Architeaser – June 29

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Yesterday’s Architeaser was the awning and balcony of the Capital Hotel. Though not unique at the time it was constructed, it is now one of only two balconies which extend out over the sidewalk in Little Rock. When the building was constructed there was no balcony; it was added, however, during the early years as the building was modified and expanded.

Here is today’s Architeaser, which is the newest awning this week.