Occidental Life Building, Albuquerque

The Occidental Life Building, situated in Downtown Albuquerque, is a renowned office building that boasts a distinctive Venetian Gothic Revival architectural style. It is widely regarded as one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city, and its uniqueness has been acknowledged nationwide.

Designed by Henry C. Trost, the building was inaugurated in 1917 but was severely damaged by a fire in 1933. Despite this setback, the exterior walls remained intact, and the structure was subsequently rebuilt by W. Miles Brittelle, who took the opportunity to redesign the roofline to achieve a more consistent Venetian appearance. The building underwent further renovation in 1981, which included the addition of a second story to the interior.

The building's primary attraction is its white terra cotta facade, which enfolds the south and east sections of the edifice. The facade is patterned after the Doge's Palace in Venice and is distinguished by arcades of pointed Venetian Gothic arches, quatrefoil windows, and an ornamental frieze with a line of finials, added after the 1934 renovation. The spandrels and capitals are bedecked with intricate floral ornamentation, and the building's curved corners are punctuated with pointed turrets.

Positioned on the northwest corner of Third Street and Gold Avenue, the Occidental Life Building was recognized as a cultural property of the New Mexico State Register in 1973 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.