Occidental Building 1917

The Occidental Life Building, one of Albuquerque’s most iconic historical structures, was designed by Trost & Trost and completed in 1917. The building, designed in a Venetian Gothic Revival Style, was based on the style of the Doge’s Palace in Venice, as requested by building owner George Rossington.

The building was gutted by a 1933 fire, but immediately rebuilt by famed New Mexico architect W. Miles Brittelle in a much more decorated version of Trost’s original design. (You can see the differences, especially along the cornice, in the attached photographs.) At the time of the rebuild, Brittelle may have been an associate with Trost & Trost; we have documentation that he was part of the firm 3 years previous to this event, and may have been at this time. Please see our notes on this at https://www.facebook.com/TrostSociety/posts/2381384525312933.

The building is listed at the National Register of Historic Places. For more information, please see https://www.facebook.com/TrostSociety/posts/2402832539834798

— Mark Stone

Other Names:
Type: Commercial
Construction Date: Jan 1, 1917
Address: 119 3rd Street Southwest, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Condition: Restored