Graham Building, Prairie School office building in Aurora, Illinois.
The Graham Building is a Prairie School-style office building in Aurora with eight stories of steel-reinforced concrete and brick exterior. Its ground floor features polished granite on the facade, while original wooden casement windows with transoms remain intact across the main elevation.
Architect George Grant Elmslie designed this building in 1926 as one of his tallest structures during his work in Aurora. The trapezoidal-shaped structure was commissioned by William Graham, who owned it through the 1950s.
The building displays Prairie School design principles with horizontal lines and grouped windows that guide the eye along the facade. Decorative terracotta elements beneath the second-story windows contribute to an organic overall appearance that connects the building's edge with its surroundings.
The building sits at South Stolp Avenue and is easily recognized from the Fox River side. Its location allows for a pleasant walk along the riverside to view the exterior and facade details.
The building has an unusual trapezoidal shape that distinguishes it from other structures in the area. This geometric feature resulted from specific site requirements and makes the structure visually different from typical rectangular buildings.
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