Van Antwerp Building, Early 20th-century skyscraper in downtown Mobile, United States.
The Van Antwerp Building is an 11-story office structure in downtown Mobile designed in the Beaux-Arts style with ornamental terracotta cladding on its exterior. Its interior contains office space with meeting areas, and its street-level features contribute to the walkable character of the downtown core.
Construction began in 1907 and the building opened to the public in 1908, introducing an innovative construction method to the region. It became a landmark for its use of reinforced concrete technology, which was groundbreaking for tall structures in the southeastern United States at that time.
The structure displays the Beaux-Arts design language that defined downtown Mobile's early commercial buildings, with ornate detailing throughout its exterior. Walking past the ground floor offers a glimpse into how office spaces have served as anchors for the city's professional activities over the decades.
The building sits on a main street in the downtown area and is easily reached on foot from nearby attractions and parking facilities. You can view and photograph the exterior at any time, though access to interior office spaces depends on business operations and prior arrangement.
A glass installation at street level shows side-by-side images of the Mobile skyline from 1909 and 2015, creating a visual timeline of the city's transformation. This display offers visitors an immediate comparison of how the downtown landscape has evolved over more than a century.
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