Name: St. Louis Life Insurance Building
Address: Sixth and Locust Streets
Year: 1874
Date of Demolition: Unknown
Architectural Firm/Architect: George I. Barnett
Front facade: Stone, ashlar
Property Type Codes: Commercial building, Central Business District masonry
Ward: 7
Neighborhood: 35
History:
Later known as the Equitable Building, George I. Barnett designed this building for a business group originally headed by James Eads. The raised basement was of rusticated Missouri red granite, with its six upper stories of cream-colored Missouri limestone. The facade was divided into three distinct sections by two strong intermediate cornices. They were balanced by the verticality of the two-story engaged pilasters set on piers, which graced the top four stories. The entire buidling was heavily ornamented, including the cornice and roof balustrade which carried figural sculptures on its piers. Its two pedimented entry porticos also carried figural sculptures. The building was said to be completely fireproof. Its floors were carried on brick arches, reinforced with iron girders and supported by richly decorated columns. Barnett attempted to combine utility and art into a building that would reflect the security, prosperity and respectibility that his clients wished to project [118, 119].
People
Barnett, George Ingham
Reference
Architectural Heritage of St. Louis, 1803-1891
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