W. W. Griest Building

The W. W. Griest Building is a fourteen-story office tower in Lancaster with a facade of granite, limestone, and terra cotta designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. The vertical lines and materials create a strong presence on the city skyline that makes it easy to spot from many angles.

Architect C. Emlen Urban designed the building in 1924 and it was completed in 1925 during a time when Lancaster was growing as a commercial center. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

The building reflects the commercial boom that reshaped Lancaster during the 1920s and continues to be part of the city's business center. Its materials and design choices show the architectural standards that businesspeople valued at that time.

The building sits in central Lancaster near shops and services, making it easy to reach on foot or by car from most parts of the city. Since it remains an active office building, interior access may be limited unless you have business there.

The building received a major tower addition in 1976 that significantly altered its profile and made it the second tallest structure in Lancaster's skyline. This expansion shows how the structure adapted to growing business needs over the decades.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: 1925

Architects: C. Emlen Urban

Floors above the ground: 14

GPS coordinates: 40.03806,-76.30667

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:51