Louisville Art Deco - AT&T Building

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Last Updated: July 30, 2006 Added historical information..

Date Constructed: 1930
Address: 512 W Chestnut
Current Building Name: AT&T
Earlier Building Names: South Central Bell
Architect: Marye, Vinour, Mayre and Armistead - - - Atlanta, GA
Builder: Unknown at this time
Current Status: In use
Designation (if applicable): Unknown at this time

The AT&T building is located at the corner of 5th & Chestnut, and was built in 1930 (per the corner stone engraving). The main portion of the building is 11 floors tall. It appears that a 7-floor addition was added at some point to extend the building to the 6th & Chestnut corner. It could be original to the building. I have not yet confirmed this with building management. Thus far, it is the ultimate expression in Louisville of Art Deco architectural design and ornamentation that I've found - - vertical lines; geometric & floral limestone carvings and decorative bronze metalwork; "frozen fountain" style metal reliefs; set-back design (somewhat); decorative grills; zig-zag motifs in brickwork and metalwork.

The Chestnut side of the building has two sets of doors with decorative limestone carvings and metalwork. The door entrances also have decorative bronze lights on either side. Both sets of doors are identical. The 5th Street side of the building has two sets of large windows with decorative limestone carvings and metalwork. Both sets of windows are identical. There are also some decorative zig-zag metalwork pieces in some of the smaller windows, as well as decorative vent grills.

The beautiful decorative metalwork and reliefs on what I presume to be the original portion of the building are in need of polishing. I can only imagine how gorgeous it would appear once this is accomplished! The bronze on the windows of what I presume to be the later addition already has a nice luster to them.

I will be attempting to get better photos, as some are blurry and the carving near the top of the building need better close-ups to appreciate the details.

Click on the thumbnail photo to view a larger image.

5th & Chestnut view.
5th & Chestnut upper corner.
6th & Chestnut view.
6th & Chestnut view.

6th & Chestnut - note window bronzes.
Chestnut St window bronze.
Chestnut St. window bronze
Chestnut St. door carvings with light.

Chestnut St. door.
Chestnut St. door carving detail.
Door decorative metalwork and reliefs.
Door light.

Chestnut St. door.
Bronze "frozen fountain" relief.
Door carving detail.
Lower part of Chestnut St. side.

Chestnut St. up-view.
Door carving detail.
Door metalwork detail.
Light detail.

Door metalwork.
Door carving detail.
Door metalwork detail.
"Frozen fountain" bronze relie over door.

Door entrance bronze side piece.
5th & Chestnut corner.
5th & Chestnut corner - 1930 engraving.
Chestnut St. upper - showing carvings.

5th & Chestnut corner - from 5th.
5th Street side - full view.
5th St. upper detail.
5th St. up-view.

5th St. windows.
5th St. windows.
5th St. window detail.
5th St. window carving.

5th St. side upper details.
Zig-zag brick pattern.
5th St. window motif.
5th St. window detail

5th St. window metalwork.
5th St. window.
5th St. smaller window bronze chevrons (zig-zags).
5th St. smaller window detail.

5th St. window vent grill.
5th St. vent grills.
5th St. vent grill detail.
Rear of building - carvings near top.

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