Capital Club Building

Capital Club Building is a 12-story skyscraper in downtown Raleigh featuring a steel frame structure adorned with geometric patterns and decorative Art Deco details across its entire facade. The exterior showcases vertical lines and setbacks that emphasize the building's height while bands of ornamental brickwork frame the windows in rows.

Architect Frank B. Simpson designed this commercial building in 1929 during a period of rapid architectural innovation in Raleigh. Its completion marked a moment when the city was investing heavily in modern structures that reflected its growing economic power and ambitions.

The building housed a private club where local business leaders gathered for meetings and social events, reflecting how the elite shaped community life in early 20th century Raleigh. The membership-only spaces upstairs became a symbol of business power in the growing city.

The building stands in downtown Raleigh on West Martin Street and remains in active office use, with public lobby areas that preserve original architectural details. Visitors can view the ground-floor spaces freely, though accessing upper floors requires permission or special arrangements with building management.

The structure blends classical architectural proportions with Art Deco ornamental elements, creating a rare fusion where traditional elegance meets modernist design. This balance between two design approaches makes the building architecturally distinctive compared to similar commercial structures built during the same era.

Location: Raleigh

Inception: 1929

Architects: Frank B. Simpson

Official opening: 1930

Architectural style: Art Deco

GPS coordinates: 35.77722,-78.64056

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:20