O. T. Bassett Tower

O. T. Bassett Tower

The O. T. Bassett Tower
General information
Status open
Location 303 Texas Avenue
El Paso, Texas
Coordinates 31°45′35″N 106°29′10″W / 31.7597°N 106.4862°WCoordinates: 31°45′35″N 106°29′10″W / 31.7597°N 106.4862°W
Construction started 1929
Completed 1930
Owner
O. T. Bassett Tower
Location 301 Texas Ave., El Paso, Texas
Coordinates 31°53′29″N 106°34′15″W / 31.89139°N 106.57083°W
Area less than one acre
Built 1930
Architectural style Moderne, Art Deco, Other, Stepped skyscraper
Governing body Private
MPS Commercial Structures of El Paso by Henry C. Trost TR
NRHP Reference # 80004101[1]
Added to NRHP September 24, 1980
Technical details
Floor count 15
Design and construction
Architect Trost & Trost

The O. T. Bassett Tower is an Art Deco skyscraper located at 303 Texas Avenue in Downtown El Paso, Texas. It was built by Charles N. Bassett, who named it in honor of his father. The tower was designed by Trost & Trost and completed in 1930, making it one of Henry Trost's last commissions. It was briefly the tallest building in the city but was surpassed later the same year by the Hilton Hotel. The Bassett Tower is 196 feet (60 m) tall and has 15 stories, with setbacks at the tenth and thirteenth floors. It is faced with tan brick veneer and adorned with stone and terra cotta decorative elements, including a sculpted face over the main entrance which is believed to be that of Trost himself. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Luhrs Tower in Phoenix, Arizona was also designed by Trost & Trost and is very similar to the Bassett Tower.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.

External links

Preceded by
Anson Mills Building
Tallest Building in El Paso
1930
114m
Succeeded by
Plaza Hotel (El Paso)