North American Building

The North American Building stands on South Broad Street as a multi-story structure featuring characteristic Art Nouveau elements across its exterior. The design combines office floors with elaborate decorative details that echo natural forms and plant-like patterns.

The building was constructed around 1900 and first served as headquarters for a newspaper, which explains its scale and design. It emerged during a period when Philadelphia was growing into a modern city and architects were exploring new heights and styles.

The building displays Art Nouveau features that were favored for financial institutions of that era. Its decorative details and organic forms show how people wanted to make commercial spaces more beautiful.

The building is located in central Philadelphia and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors can view the facade from the sidewalk and study the architectural details from the street.

The building's ornamental details and curves reveal new details when viewed from different angles along the street. Photographers often find multiple perspectives here that showcase the decorations in different ways.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: 1900

Architects: James H. Windrim

Architectural style: Art Nouveau

Floors above the ground: 21

GPS coordinates: 39.95030,-75.16370

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:44