Lamar Building, Gothic Revival bank building in Downtown Augusta, United States
The Lamar Building is a 17-story bank structure completed after World War One that rises along Broad Street in downtown Augusta with Gothic Revival details throughout its design. The structure contains three elevators and features a glass addition on top that crowns its roofline.
Construction began in 1916 but a major fire disrupted the work and pushed completion to 1918 under architect G. Lloyd Preacher. This setback and the subsequent rebuilding became defining moments in the structure's history.
The building serves as a prominent landmark in Augusta's downtown and reflects the Gothic Revival style popular for banks in the early 1900s. Its presence shapes the character of the district and remains meaningful to residents as a symbol of the city's commercial past.
The building is undergoing renovation to add residential units in the upper floors while keeping ground-level shops and offices active. Visitors should expect ongoing construction activity and access may be limited during the work.
The glass addition on top was designed in 1976 by I.M. Pei, the architect famous for the Louvre pyramid, and locals nicknamed it 'the toaster'. This surprising design contribution from a world-renowned architect added an unexpected modern element to the historic structure.
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