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Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company Home Office

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1914, Marshall and Fox. 720 E. Wisconsin Ave.
  • (Photograph by Andrew Hope)
  • (Photograph by Andrew Hope)

This building is a fine example of a Beaux-Arts classical design, built at the height of its popularity and that of the City Beautiful movement, which the style embodied. Marshall and Fox translated Northwestern Mutual’s business success into high-quality materials and craftsmanship for its headquarters. Huge Corinthian columns made of granite front the green terra-cotta wall at the main facade. Giant pilasters line the side walls. Cast and extruded bronze entrance doors and exquisite lampposts flank the front steps. The use of classical elements not only evoked the popular City Beautiful movement, but also suggested that this office building was a temple guarding each client in sacred trust.

Writing Credits

Author: 
Marsha Weisiger et al.
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Data

What's Nearby

Milwaukee Gas Light Company Building
U.S. Bank Center (First Wisconsin Bank Building)
Northern Trust (Northwestern National Insurance Company Building)
Wisconsin Scottish Rite Cathedral (Plymouth Congregational Church)
Federal Building

Citation

Marsha Weisiger et al., "Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company Home Office", [Milwaukee, Wisconsin], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/WI-01-MI14.

Print Source

Buildings of Wisconsin

Buildings of Wisconsin, Marsha Weisiger and contributors. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2017, 76-76.

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