Equitable Building, Gothic Revival office building in Des Moines, United States.
The Equitable Building is a 19-story Gothic Revival office tower in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exterior features pointed arches and carved stone decoration, and the interior now contains residential apartments following a conversion.
The building was completed in 1924 and held the title of Iowa's tallest structure for close to 50 years. It was built during a period when insurance companies were turning Des Moines into a regional economic hub.
The name comes from the Equitable Life Insurance Company, which made Des Moines one of the leading insurance cities in the country. The Gothic Revival details on the facade, such as pointed arches and stone ornaments, were chosen to give the building a sense of authority and permanence.
The building stands on Locust Street in the heart of downtown and is easy to reach on foot from most central points. Walking around the block gives the best view of the Gothic details along the full length of the facade.
Although the building reads as a standard office tower from the street, the pinnacles at the top are closely modeled on medieval church spires rather than on other commercial buildings. This mix of religious and commercial forms was a deliberate choice popular among American architects in the 1920s.
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