Historic Zoning Commission

Individual H-1- Burwell Building: Level I

3-B-14-HZ

Applicant Request

Level I. Installation of signage

Site Info

The Burwell Building and the Tennessee Theater form a building complex, with the construction date of the Burwell (1907-08) preceding the Tennessee Theater (1928) by approximately 20 years. The burwell Building is a Renaissance Revival style ten-story plus mezzanine and basement office building. The Burwell Building is organized into three main divisions exhibited on the north and west (front) facades. The ground floor, mezzanine and second floor form a base with pilasters running from the ground floor to the mezzanine and a strong course that separates the mezzanine from the second floor and serves as an entablature. A cornice divides the second floor from the third floor. The third through the ninth floors form the middle portion and a terra cotta belt course separate the ninth from the tenth floor, with the tenth floor capping the building with a heavy cornice with massive dentils underlain with a second row of smaller dentils and supported by massive bracketed consoles, both singular and paired. Rustication formed by alternating protruding and receding brick courses typifies the base portion of the building. Terra cotta moldings form cornices, capitals, surrounds and decorative panels. The middle portion of the building is smooth brick, with flat brick lintels formed by projecting brick courses over rectangular windows.

The Gay Street façade (west elevation) is organized into seven bays defined by single window openings of one light metal sash, of recent vintage. The northern three bays were built in 1907-08 while the additional four bays were added in conjunction with the construction of the Tennessee Theater. The addition matches the original in design, with the exception of a slightly wider brick panel at the point where the buildings join. Three divisions and seven bays mark the Clinch Street (north) elevation. Single windows mark the first and seventh bays, which have slightly projecting pavilions. The second through the sixth bays have paired windows with single light sash. At the ground floor and mezzanine of both elevations are oversize windows with intricate wood frames with an elliptical arch at the top and a circular light and frame. At the tenth floor, the cornice of the west elevation extends only one bay to the north, although it may have intended the width of the façade originally. There has been an alteration of the brick at that level.

1. Neither of the façades is designed to accommodate a sign board.

2, Creating the appearance of a sign board on a building where one did not historically exist is inappropriate because it changes the appearance of the building and creates a false sense of history.

3. The cornice and pilasters of the façade exhibit panels of decorative moldings of floral, vine, and vase images, documented to be of terra cotta. These motifs are typical of the Art Nouveau style which was most prevalent between 1890 and 1910.

4. The Art Noveau moldings are a character-defining feature of both the north (Clinch Ave.) and front (Gay St) facades.

5. The proposed sign board will obscure some of the historic Art Noveau moldings.

6. It appears that the mounting mechanism will damage the historic masonry of the building.