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Whilldin Building

Coordinates: 33°31′9″N 86°48′25″W / 33.51917°N 86.80694°W / 33.51917; -86.80694
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Whilldin Building
The Whilldin Building in November 2011
Whilldin Building is located in Birmingham, Alabama
Whilldin Building
Whilldin Building is located in Alabama
Whilldin Building
Whilldin Building is located in the United States
Whilldin Building
Location513–517 21st St., N, Birmingham, Alabama
Coordinates33°31′9″N 86°48′25″W / 33.51917°N 86.80694°W / 33.51917; -86.80694
Area0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built1923
ArchitectD. O. Whilldin
NRHP reference No.82002044[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 25, 1982

The Whilldin Building is the former office of Alabama architect David Oliver Whilldin. Located on 21st Street North, now Richard Arrington Junior Boulevard North, in Birmingham, Alabama, the building was designed and built by Whilldin during 1923 and 1924[2] and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1] The site is now the office of the Wininger Law Firm.[3]

Whilldin designed the structure to appear as two separate buildings. The larger, white half of the building is covered with a smooth limestone and features four Tuscan pilasters that carry an entablature and the cornice.

The smaller, left half of the building, held Whilldin's personal office. It is set slightly back from the street and faced in dark brick with terra cotta and stone detailing. The most remarkable aspect of the left facade is the entrance. Full-sized drawings detail the ring of acanthus leaves, the beribboned wreath panel, and the consoles that support the arched hood over the entry vestibule. A band of yellow terra cotta continues across the facade from the lintel of the door to the space above the windows. Within this band appears the inscription "D.O. WHILLDIN, ARCHITECT".[2]

In 2012, David Wininger, the current owner of the building, commissioned a New York Yankees themed mural on the side of the structure.[4] Depicted are: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter, and Yogi Berra. [1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Shelby, Thomas Mark (2008). D.O. Whilldin: Alabama Architect. Birmingham Historical Society. pp. 66–70. ISBN 9780943994338.
  3. ^ Carlton, Bob (March 29, 2009). "Book looks at architect D.O. Whilldin, designer of many buildings in Birmingham". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  4. ^ Carlton, Bob (January 20, 2013). "Birmingham lawyer David Wininger builds shrine to his beloved New York Yankees". AL.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
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