Milam Building

{{Short description|Historic high-rise building in San Antonio Texas}}

{{Infobox NRHP

|name = Milam Building

|image = Milam Building, San Antonio.jpg

|image_size = 260

|caption = Historic Milam Building

|locmapin = Texas#USA

|locmap_label = Milam Building

|locmap_label_position = top

|locmap_relief = yes

|coordinates = {{coords|29|25|39|N|98|29|34|W|display=inline,title}}

|location = 115 E Travis Street, San Antonio, Texas

|built = 1928

|architect =Willis, George

|refnum = 15000246

|added = May 18, 2015

}}

The Milam Building is a historic 21-story building in downtown San Antonio, Texas. Built in 1928, it was the tallest building in San Antonio and the tallest brick and reinforced concrete structure in the United States standing at {{convert|280|ft|m|-1}}. It is also known to be the first high-rise air-conditioned office building in the United States. The building was designed by George Willis, engineered by M.L. Diver, and constructed by L.T. Wright and Company. The building was named in honor of the Republic of Texas historical figure Benjamin Milam, noted for his leadership during the Texas Revolution. In keeping with that motif, the only flag that flies atop the tower is the Lone Star flag.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

History

The Milam Building has undergone many events, including fires, foreclosure, and ownership changes. It was owned by Principal Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Des Moines, Iowa while the law firm of Maloney & Maloney occupied the top three floors. The 1950s had a tenancy by Mobil, Shell, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and Exxon used the building for their Texas headquarters, before they moved to Houston. The 1960s saw a tenancy by the men's clothing firm Hutchins Brothers in the specially designed Argyle Room as a permanent retail store within the building.{{cite news |author= |title=Hutchins' Wonderland Store Opens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6019206// |newspaper=Express and News |location=San Antonio, Texas |date=November 12, 1961 |via= Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}

George Willis was the architect of the building.{{cite news |author= |title= Tower of Americas Sparkles San Antonio Downtown Scene |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6019894// |newspaper=The Amarillo Globe-Times|location=Amarillo, Texas |date=November 24, 1969 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}} }} The Milam Building was listed on National Register of Historic Places in 2014.{{cite web |url=https://sanantonio.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2105569&GUID=A921B2B1-06B6-49A2-ABBD-853B7EEA164C&Options=&Search= |title=14-3501 Type: Public Hearing On agenda: 1/7/2015 Address/Description: 115 E TRAVIS ST Landmark Name: Milam Building Applicant: Texas Historical Commission Request: Review of National Register Nomination Attachments: 1. Case_13_115 E Travis |publisher=City of San Antonio, Historic and Design Review Commission |access-date=December 11, 2015}} Includes 52 pages of exhibits in Adobe Acroat (PDf) format. The building was the first high rise office building in the world that was completely air conditioned and the first high rise that was built with no steel girders, only reinforced concrete.{{cite news |author= |title= Tower Is Symbol For San Antonio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6019528// |newspaper=Corsicana Daily Sun |location=Corsicana, Texas|date=November 12, 1969 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}} }}

Design

The building contains 210,851 square-feet within the tower structure and it was the first office building in the United States with built-in air conditioning when constructed.

{{sfn|Kane|1997|p=93}}{{cite web |author=|url= https://www.asme.org/getmedia/b0ab0ff1-c44b-45af-97a5-fb5f53e80630/155-Milam-High-rise-Air-Conditioned-Building.aspx |title=The Milam Building, A National Mechanical Engineering Heritage Site Designation Ceremony |location=San Antonio, Texas |date= August 23, 1991 |publisher=American Society of Mechanical Engineers |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151021202559/https://www.asme.org/getmedia/b0ab0ff1-c44b-45af-97a5-fb5f53e80630/155-milam-high-rise-air-conditioned-building.aspx |archive-date= October 21, 2015 |url-status= dead|access-date=December 10, 2015 |quote=When it opened in January 1928, San Antonio's 21-story Milam Building, originally owned by the Travis Investment Company, was the nation's tallest brick and reinforced-concrete structure — taller than comparable concrete-framed buildings in New York and Chicago — and the first high-rise air-conditioned office building in the country. }} The general contractor was L.T. Wright and Company and the architect was George Willis, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.{{sfn|Henry|1993|pages= 217, 220}} The building engineer was M. L. Diver.{{cite web |url= https://www.asme.org/about-asme/who-we-are/engineering-history/landmarks/155-milam-high-rise-air-conditioned-building |title= Milam High-rise Air Conditioned Building |author= |publisher=The American Society of Mechanical Engineers |access-date=December 10, 2015|quote= The Milam Building was the first high-rise air-conditioned office building in the United States.}} The building was named after Colonel Ben Milam, a leader in the Texas revolution.{{cite news |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Milam-Building-changed-office-life-3537103.php |title=Cityscape: Milam Building |first1=Josh |last1=Baugh |date=May 5, 2012 |work=San Antonio Express |publisher=My San Antonio |access-date=December 10, 2015}}

The Milam Company advertising proclaimed air conditioning as the building's principal feature, naming it Carrier's "Manufactured Weather."{{cite news |author= |title=World's Outstanding Air Conditioner Installations are by Carrier Corp |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6019011// |newspaper=Lake Charles American-Press |location=Lake Charles, Louisiana |date=May 23, 1961 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}} }} The building shares an architectonic character with New York's seminal Barclay-Vesey Building. Exterior ornamentation is kept to a minimum, except at the top of the building.{{sfn|Henry|1993|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=XSEKMBiN-OQC&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=%22george+willis%22+%22frank+lloyd+wright%22 217, 220]}}

Air-conditioning system

This early air conditioner system was modeled from a German mine shaft compressor. Large ice chunks were deposited in the building's basement to aid the chilling unit. The {{convert|18|ft|m|-1}} long chiller remained in service until October 1989. Its 60 years of service was trumpeted by Carrier as proving good design leading to longevity. In designing and executing this installation, and creating an artificial climate, at least nine new mechanical construction problems had to be addressed not previously encountered in skyscrapers. In short, the deal between Travis Investment Company and Carrier Engineering resulted in the first high-rise, fully air conditioned, office building in the United States. The installation between Travis Investment Company and Carrier Engineering resulted in the first high-rise, fully air conditioned, office building in the United States.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers recognized that Carrier's "Manufactured Weather" had many benefits. Cooled offices helped in tenant retention. The office environment became more efficient and hospitable due to the elimination or reduction of unwanted elements. The building owners also found they could charge a premium of 10 to 15 percent more rent for air conditioned offices.

References

=Citations=

=Sources=

{{cite book |location=Austin, Texas |title=Architecture in Texas: 1895–1945 |first1=Jay C. |last1=Henry |title-link=Architecture in Texas: 1895–1945 |isbn=978-0-292-73072-4 |publisher=University of Texas Press |date=January 1, 1993 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=XSEKMBiN-OQC&pg=PA217 217], [https://books.google.com/books?id=XSEKMBiN-OQC&pg=PA220 220] }}
{{cite book |last=Kane |first=Joseph Nathan |date=1997 |title=Famous First Facts, Fifth Edition |url=https://archive.org/details/famousfirstfacts00kane_0 |publisher=The H. W. Wilson Company |isbn=0-8242-0930-3 |quote=The first air-conditioned office building was the Milam Building, San Antonio, TX, which opened on January 1, 1928. The building was 21 stories high, contained nearly 3 million cubic feet of space, and had 247,779 square feet of gross floor area. It was the first building in the world in which the air conditioning was a part of the original construction. |url-access=registration }}

External links

{{cite web |url=http://digital.utsa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p9020coll008/id/1901 |title=Bird's-eye view looking east from the Milan Building, San Antonio, Texas |publisher=University of Texas San Antonio |year=1929 |format=Photograph |access-date=December 10, 2015}}
{{cite web |url=https://in.pinterest.com/pin/238550111489917276/ |format=Photograph |title=Milam Building, ca. 1930 |publisher=Pinterest |access-date=December 12, 2015}} With Texas State Flag flying atop the tower.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20151203175703/http://www.themilambuilding.com/ Milam Building home page]
{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coVZycKJYF8 |title=Over the Edge Milam Building San Antonio Texas |date=October 19, 2013 |publisher=The Law Offices of Matthew L. Finch, PC |format=Video |access-date=December 10, 2015}} YouTube Unedited video of rappelling down the face of the building for the Special Olympics.
{{cite web |url=http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=milam+building+san+antonio+haunted&view=detail&mid=C67C868D5FA9F672AF56C67C868D5FA9F672AF56&FORM=VIRE8 |title=Over the Edge Milam Building San Antonio Texas |date=October 21, 2013 |format=Video |access-date=December 11, 2015}} YouTube Edited video of rappelling down the face of the building for the Special Olympics.

Category:1928 establishments in Texas

Category:Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas

Category:National Register of Historic Places in San Antonio

Category:Office buildings completed in 1928

Category:Skyscraper office buildings in San Antonio