Reynolds Building

Reynolds Building. Completed in 1929, this Art Deco skyscraper in Winston-Salem, North Carolina served as the headquarters for the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Designed by the firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, its distinctive form is widely recognized as a direct inspiration for the iconic Empire State Building in New York City. The building remains a defining landmark of the Piedmont Triad and a symbol of early 20th-century corporate ambition.

History

The project was commissioned by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company during a period of immense prosperity following the success of brands like Camel cigarettes. Construction began in 1927 under the direction of the New York City-based architects Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, with the building officially opening in 1929. It immediately became the tallest building in the state and a powerful testament to the economic influence of the tobacco industry in the United States. For decades, it housed the executive offices and key operations of the tobacco giant, witnessing the company's expansion and its eventual transformation into RJR Nabisco. The structure has undergone careful preservation efforts and continues to be a vital part of the downtown Winston-Salem landscape, later being adaptively reused for residential and commercial purposes.

Architecture

The architectural design is a masterwork of the Art Deco style, characterized by its sleek, vertical lines and geometric ornamentation. The facade is clad in Indiana limestone and features intricate metal spandrels and setbacks that create a dramatic, tiered silhouette as the building rises. The crown of the structure is particularly notable, featuring a series of cascading setbacks topped with a pyramidal roof and a central flagpole. The lavish interior lobby is finished with marble, bronze, and detailed aluminum work, including murals depicting the history of tobacco. The building's structural steel frame and overall massing, conceived by William F. Lamb of Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, directly informed the later design of the much larger Empire State Building.

Cultural significance

As the first major skyscraper in North Carolina, it symbolized the ascent of Winston-Salem as a major industrial and financial center in the American South. It stands as a monument to the legacy of Richard Joshua Reynolds and the global reach of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, which shaped the region's economy and culture for generations. The building's architectural progeny, the Empire State Building, creates a unique historical link between a regional corporate headquarters and one of the world's most famous structures. It is a contributing property to the Dowinston Winston-Salem Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In popular culture

The building's striking profile has made it a recognizable backdrop in film and television. It has been featured in episodes of the television series The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock, which were often set in North Carolina. The structure also appears in the film Billy: The Early Years, which chronicles the life of evangelist Billy Graham. Its status as the prototype for the Empire State Building is frequently cited in documentaries about architecture and engineering, such as those aired on the History Channel and PBS.

See also

* Art Deco architecture * List of tallest buildings in North Carolina * Shreve, Lamb and Harmon * Empire State Building * Winston-Salem, North Carolina * National Register of Historic Places listings in Forsyth County, North Carolina

Category:Skyscrapers in North Carolina Category:Art Deco architecture in North Carolina Category:National Register of Historic Places in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Category:Shreve, Lamb and Harmon buildings Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1929