Empire Manufacturing Company Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1939 at 575 Glen Iris Drive in northeast Atlanta, this one-story brick factory was designed and built by Jackson & Edney of North Carolina for the National Linen Service Corporation. It housed the Empire Manufacturing Company, which made uniforms, caps, towels and other linen goods. Art Deco features include an oversized entrance with a geometric brick surround, brick pilasters dividing the bays, and large multi-pane metal windows. Inside, a clear-span steel truss system covers 95 feet without supports, and five saw-tooth roof monitors bring in daylight. These choices followed company guidelines meant to move away from the sweatshop atmosphere common in older plants. The building matters as an intact example of a specialized industrial type and for its link to a company founded in Atlanta in 1919 that grew nationwide. National Linen sold the building in 1955. It is now used as offices, with the roof monitors and structural system still visible.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a good, intact pre-World War II industrial building in the Art Deco style, built to new guidelines calling for a modern look, open interiors, natural light and air circulation. It is also tied to the National Linen Service Corporation, which began in Atlanta and grew nationally. The building reflects the company's diversification into manufacturing linen products.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02000078, listed February 20, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 575 Glen Iris Dr., NE, Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | February 20, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000078 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-1951 |
| Architect / builder | Jackson & Edney-Architects/Builders |
| Architectural style | MODERN MOVEMENT/Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as an office building; the first floor and basement have been divided into offices, while roof monitors and structural systems remain visible. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 33.77215, -84.36686 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02000078.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14686626
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.