Delmarva Power & Light Building
{{short description|Historic building in Wilmington, Delaware}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Delmarva Power & Light Building
| nrhp_type = nrhp
| image = Delaware College of Art and Design, Wilmington DE.jpg
| caption = Building from the intersection of Market & 6th
| alt = Five-story limestone building in downtown
| location = 600 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
| locmapin = Delaware#USA
| map_alt = Located in downtown Wilmington in northern Delaware
| coordinates = {{coord|39|44|31|N|75|33|00|W|display=inline,title}}
| area =
| built = 1932, 1955
| designated_nrhp_type = January 30, 1985
| architect = Brown & Whiteside
| architecture = Art Deco
| builder = United Engineers and Contractors, Inc.
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| refnum = 85000149{{NRISref|2013a|dateform=|accessdate=May 25, 2024|refnum=85000149|name=Delmarva Power & Light Building}}
| mpsub = Market Street MRA (64000105)
| website = {{URL|https://dcad.edu/}}
| nrhp_type2 = indcp
| partof = Downtown Wilmington Commercial Historic District
| designated_nrhp_type2 = March 24, 2017
| nocat = yes
}}
The Delmarva Power & Light Building, also known as the DCAD Building, is a historic office building in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. The former headquarters of Delmarva Power & Light (DP&L) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
History
DP&L decided to build the headquarters in 1931 which was completed the subsequent year. While the original building was four stories, it was engineered with a fifth floor in mind which was eventually added in 1954. In 1972, the company moved their headquarters to 8th & King and the building sat vacant for a decade before Chase Manhattan Bank leased the space.{{cite web |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75323703 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Delmarva Power & Light Building |last= |first= |editor= |website= |publisher=National Register of Historic Places |date=1984 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |via=National Archives}}
In 1997, the newly created Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) took over the building from the bank to use as their main academic building with classrooms, studio space, and offices.{{cite web |url=https://delawarebusinesstimes.com/news/education/delaware-college-art-design-makes-two-year-program-work/ |title=Delaware College of Art and Design sticks to two-year model |last=Vuocolo |first=Alex |website=Delaware Business Times |date=March 9, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2024}} In 2021, DCAD sold their adjacent resident hall and used some of the proceeds to refurbish the interior.{{cite web |url=https://delawarebusinesstimes.com/news/dcad-saville-sale/ |title=DCAD sells Saville residence hall for $3.3M |last=Owens |first=Jacob |website=Delaware Business Times |date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=May 24, 2024}}
In 2024, the school announced that they would permanently close down.{{Cite web |last=Powers |first=Kelly |title=Delaware College of Art and Design to close permanently in Wilmington |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2024/05/23/delaware-college-of-art-and-design-announces-permanent-closure-wilmington/73821899007/ |date=May 23, 2024 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=The News Journal |publisher=Gannett |url-access=limited |language=en-US}} The Buccini Pollin Group, a major Wilmington developer, later purchased the building for $3.5 million.{{cite web |url=https://delawarebusinesstimes.com/insider-only/bpg-buys-dcad-building/ |title=BPG buys DCAD building for $3.5M |last=Tabeling |first=Katie |website=Delaware Business Times |date=December 5, 2024 |access-date=December 6, 2024 |url-access=limited}}
Architecture
File:Delmarva Power & Light Building pilasters.jpg
The Art Deco building faces Market Street with an Indiana limestone facade consisting of six bays. Granite piers frame the main entrance which is below a transom containing a lightning bolt motif.
The first floor sits on a black granite base. The second through fourth floors have four triangular fluted limestone pilasters with floral capitals. The fourth-floor has a parapet featuring stylized cresting in limestone. The fifth floor is a plain brick penthouse. The 6th Street side of the building is less ornate, consisting largely of painted brick.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Wilmington, Delaware}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Delaware}}
{{NRHP}}
Category:Office buildings completed in 1932
Category:1932 establishments in Delaware
Category:Art Deco architecture in Delaware
Category:Office buildings on the National Register of Historic Places
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Wilmington, Delaware