English-American Building
Also known as: Georgia Savings Bank Building; Flatiron Building
Why it's listed
Rising eleven stories on a narrow triangular lot between Peachtree, Broad and Poplar Streets, this steel-frame building is Atlanta's oldest standing skyscraper. Construction began in 1897 for the English-American Loan and Trust Company, and the design came from New York architect Bradford Gilbert, who had earlier designed that city's first steel-frame building. The facades have a two-story base of half-columns and piers, vertical tiers of bay windows, and a heavy overhanging cornice. Its shape closely resembles New York's Flatiron Building of 1901, and the Atlanta building took the Flatiron name in 1916. It was later called the Empire Life Building and, from 1920, the Georgia Savings Bank Building. At the time of listing, a bank was renovating it, lowering some ceilings and preserving an iron and marble staircase. The nomination values it as a visible reminder of early commercial activity and a strong visual anchor downtown.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as Atlanta's oldest standing skyscraper, designed by New York architect Bradford Gilbert. Its triangular form and tiers of bay windows anchor the central business district and reflect the city's early commercial growth. It also pre-dates New York's similar Flatiron Building of 1901.
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 76000626, listed March 26, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 74 Peachtree St., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | March 26, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000626 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897 |
| Architect / builder | Bradford Gilbert |
| Architectural style | Commercial style |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and under renovation by its new bank owner at the time of nomination; exterior largely intact with some interior alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 33.75635, -84.38843 (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 76000626.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5457908
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.