Simms Building
National Register of Historic Places

Simms Building

Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Listed
February 2, 1998
Type
Building
Period
Modern
Ref No.
97001653

About this property

The Simms Building is a historic high-rise office building in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. Designed by Flatow and Moore and completed in 1954, it was the city's first large-scale modernist building and is regarded as "Albuquerque’s best example of the International Style". The building was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1997 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, only 44 years after it was completed. At 180 feet (55 m) in height, the 13-story building was the tallest in New Mexico until the Bank of New Mexico Building was completed across the street in 1961. Its design was inspired by the latest trends in modern architecture, especially the Lever House in New York City, with glass curtain walls and a combination of vertical and horizontal volumes. Sandstone blocks from the previous building on the site, the Commercial Club, were included in the exterior walls. The Simms Building also included an innovative radiant heating and cooling system with limited solar heating capabilities. The building received attention nationally as well as locally and helped catalyze the modern architecture movement in New Mexico.

Location

400 Gold Ave. SW
Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico
35.08325, -106.65219

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Old Post Office
Industrial
0 mi
Federal Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. John's Cathedral (Additional Documentation)
Industrial
0.1 mi
Occidental Life Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Rosenwald Building (Additional Documentation)
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Chamuscado-Rodríguez Expedition 1581
1581Colonial
1.1 mi
Reconquest of New Mexico (de Cruzate's Campaign)
1689Colonial
2.5 mi
Tiwa Pueblo Skirmish – Alcanfor 1540
1540Colonial
4.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Simms Building listed on the National Register?

Simms Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 2, 1998.

What type of historic resource is Simms Building?

Simms Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Simms Building?

The period of significance for Simms Building is recorded as the modern era, specifically around 1954.

Can I research the history near Simms Building?

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