Biberman Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1919-1920 to designs by Philadelphia architect LeRoy Rothschild, this six-story reinforced concrete factory on North 15th Street is faced in red brick with limestone accents. It was constructed for Biberman Brothers, Inc., a dressmaking firm that used the building as its headquarters, design center and main plant from 1920 into the late twentieth century. The company produced women's day dresses under the L'Aiglon label, which was distributed to department stores across the country during the 1920s. Its workforce reached several hundred employees, with a peak of 600 in 1933. The building is regarded as a local example of the Commercial Style, combining an exposed concrete frame with open floor plates and regularly spaced round columns. Its significance rests on its association with the region's garment industry and on its design as a fireproof, efficient factory. Later alterations include infilled windows, a removed seventh floor and a south-side ramp added for parking use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criterion A for industry as the headquarters and manufacturing plant of Biberman Brothers, Inc., a women's dress manufacturer whose L'Aiglon label was nationally distributed. It is presented as an example of Commercial Style industrial architecture using reinforced concrete, and the company is described as one of the leading women's dress makers in the region.
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 07000951, listed September 14, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 611-619 N. 15th St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | September 14, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000951 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1919-1957 |
| Architect / builder | LeRoy Rothschild, architect |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
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| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building is presently vacant and awaiting rehabilitation by its current owner; it was converted to a parking garage in the late 20th century. |
| Coordinates | 39.96428, -75.16268 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 07000951.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4902995
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.