426 Marietta St NW
Atlanta, GA, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Westinghouse Electric Company Building

Statement of Significance:

Located on a corner lot and bounded in the rear of the lot by the Southern and Western and Atlantic railroads (now CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads), the Westinghouse Electric Company Building is representative of the commercial and industrial buildings that line Marietta Street, an important industrial area located northwest of downtown Atlanta.

The Westinghouse Electric Company Building is significant in the area of architecture as a good example of an early-20th century brick commercial building. The building is representative of early- 20th century fire-proof construction with its concrete frame clads in brick and concrete mushroom support columns. Built specifically for the Westinghouse Electric Company, the building was designed for the consolidation of Westinghouse's varied services including office, manufacturing, repair, and storage space. The building is utilitarian in design with the exception of decorative cast- concrete shield and diamond pattern insets and door surrounds on the front facade. The interior retains its lobby space, decorative cast-iron railings, and exposed concrete mushroom structural columns. The building also retains its original hemispherical bottom-type or "tin man"-type water tank. This type of steel water tank was commonly used for municipal and industrial uses in the early 20th century.

The Westinghouse Electric Company Building is also significant in the area of architecture for its design by Atlanta-based architect Emil C. Seiz. Seiz came to Atlanta from Philadelphia and apprenticed at the firm of G.W. Foote from 1892 to 1894. From 1895 to 1914, Seiz had an independent practice in partnership with a Mr. Jones during the earlier years. He founded the Seiz Construction Company in 1913. In 1915, he began work as an in-house architect for the Massell Realty Company where he remained until his death in 1940. During this time, he designed over 1,000 mercantile structures, hotels, and office buildings including the Massellton Apartments, Massell Office Building, Massell Hotel, Jefferson Hotel, and Chrysler Motor Company Building.

The building is significant in the area of industry for its association with the Westinghouse Electric Company and the expansion of the electrical industry in Atlanta in the early 20th century. The Westinghouse Electric Company established a branch office in Atlanta in 1898 and held office and warehouse space in various buildings around Atlanta. With the rapid expansion of its business in the early 20th century, Westinghouse contracted with the Massell Realty Company to construct a building to consolidate its southeastern headquarters office, service department, and shops. According to the 1923 City Builder, the building also served as warehouse space for "one of the largest supplies of electrical equipment in the Southeast.” Westinghouse remained at 426 Marietta Street until 1943 when it moved its offices to Northside Drive, where the company remains today.