Lamar Life Building

Jackson , Mississippi
Cost: $13 million | Previous Use: Office | Current Use: Office and Apartments

Project Details

The Mattiace Company completed the long anticipated rehabilitation of the landmark Lamar Life Building located in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. Constructed in 1925, this 11-story Gothic Revival white terra cotta office tower was built as the headquarters for the Lamar Life Insurance Company and also served as the radio tower and broadcast studio for Mississippi’s first network radio station, WJDX. The building maintains a strong association with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, Eudora Welty, who edited a radio program broadcast from the station and whose father was an executive with Lamar Life. Designed by the renowned Fort Worth architect, Wyatt Hedrick, the building’s distinctive white terra cotta exterior and the prominent clock tower make this building a visual landmark in the capital city. Included in the scope of the rehabilitation were the restoration of the distinguishing white terra cotta facades and the installation of new architecturally compatible storefronts. The prominent clock tower was reactivated to serve as a landmark in the city for decades to come. Within the interior, new offices and apartments were constructed, affording views of the Governor’s mansion directly across Capitol Street. Heritage is proud to have served as the historic consultant for this important project in Jackson, Mississippi.

 

Incentives Utilized:

 

  • Federal Historic Tax Credits
  • Mississippi State Historic Tax Credits (Mississippi Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program)