United Life Building – Beauty and Function
Thoroughly modern, the 10-story United Life Building opened its doors on January 2, 1930. Local architect, Charles Shaver, designed this Art Deco building for the United Life Insurance Company. Shaver, holder of Kansas Architect License #1, followed his personal philosophy — design beautiful, functional and affordable buildings.
Terra cotta tiles and granite grace the north and west façades. Inside was a vision of arcade walls covered in Carthage marble and terrazzo floors. Functional features included temperature controls for each office, a mail chute connecting every floor and elevators. Over 600,000 bricks were used in the building. All bricks were manufactured in Kansas. The estimated cost was $440,000.
Many a business called the United Building home, including:
• Architects
• Attorneys
• Insurance offices
• Kennedy and Co. accounting firm
• Optometrists
• Physicians and surgeons
• Reynolds Tobacco Company
• The Kansas Pipe Line and Gas Company general offices
• United Life Insurance Company
• United Realty and Investment Company
• United Telephone Company
• Western Union Telegraph
See more downtown Salina businesses by visiting the Salina Downtown website.
Next stop: Cross Iron Ave. at Seventh St. and proceed north to the Cozy Inn.