Professional Building

The Professional Building is an eight-story office structure in downtown Raleigh with steel frame construction, yellow brick facade, and Classical Revival styling. The design follows a three-part composition with a broad base, slender middle section, and decorative crown topped with terra cotta ornamental detailing.

Architect Yancey Milburn designed the building in 1925 as an important addition to Raleigh's developing commercial district. Its construction marked a period when the city was expanding its downtown with modern design principles and steel frame technology.

The building represents a time when Raleigh was adopting design approaches from major American commercial centers to modernize its downtown business district during the 1920s. Visitors notice the careful detailing of the facade, which reflects the craftsmanship that went into its construction and the local pride in commercial development.

The building sits in a central downtown location surrounded by other commercial establishments, making it easy to include in a walking tour of the district. Visitors can observe it from the surrounding streets and sidewalks to appreciate its architectural details from multiple angles.

The building employs a distinctive design scheme inspired by early 20th-century Chicago skyscrapers, reflecting a growing connection between southern and northern architectural styles during that era. This link reveals how Raleigh drew from developments in other parts of the country when shaping its local structures to match contemporary national trends.