State National Bank Building
The State National Bank Building is a twelve-story historic office building on the southwest corner of West Capitol and Main streets in downtown Little Rock. The tower was designed by local architect George R. Mann, and constructed between 1909 and 1911. The building was called the State National Bank Building until World War I when the bank declared bankruptcy. The building, now known as Boyle Tower gets its name from real estate tycoon and cotton trader Johnny Boyle who purchased the tower on December 6, 1916.
The original tower stood eleven stories tall; the twelfth floor was added in 1949. State National Bank endured as the tallest building in Arkansas until 1925, when it was surpassed by the thirteen story Lafayette Hotel.
State National Bank is today part of the Lafayette Square condominium, office, and retail complex. Lafayette Square incorporates five renovated buildings: the Lafayette Hotel, the Arkansas Building, the Kahn Building, Boyle Tower, and the former M.M. Cohn Department Store. The complex is owned by Tower Investments LLC of Woodland, California. Part of the tower is occupied by The Fletcher Firm, and architectural company.
References
- "Bigger Taller, Costlier: Landmark Buildings Outdo Each Other," Arkansas Business, December 27, 1999.
- Edward Klump, "Downtown Calling for Residents," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, November 6, 2005.
- Laura Stevens, "For-Rent Sign Goes Up at LR Condos," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 20, 2008.
