Nissen Building
Also known as: First Union Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 on the corner of Fourth and Cherry Streets in downtown Winston-Salem, the eighteen-story Nissen Building was designed by New York architect William L. Stoddart for William M. Nissen, former owner of the Nissen Wagon Works. Stoddart arranged its facade in the classical column pattern of base, shaft and capital, with two parallel towers divided by a setback. At completion it was said to be the tallest building in North Carolina. The building is regarded as a monument to the boom of the 1920s in Winston-Salem and to the Nissen family's role in the city's development. Its ground-floor entrance and much of the lobby were altered in the 1960s, but most of the exterior detailing survives. Federal offices occupied the upper floors from 1942, and the building remains a prominent part of the city skyline.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building reflects the 1920s boom in Winston-Salem, when tobacco and textile wealth funded elaborate skyscrapers. Its eclectic Neo-classical design, its association with the Nissen family and its role as a prominent feature of the city skyline are cited as the basis for significance. At completion it was said to be the tallest building in North Carolina.
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 83001880, listed March 17, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 310 W. Fourth St., Winston-Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Forsyth County |
| Listed | March 17, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001880 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926 |
| Architect / builder | William L. Stoddart (architect); William M. Nissen (owner, commissioning builder) |
| Architectural style | Eclectic skyscraper with Neo-classical motifs |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior largely intact apart from 1960s street-level alterations; upper floors were occupied by government offices and the building was sold in 1982 to an actuarial firm for renovation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.09212, -80.25359 (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 83001880.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14708102
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.