The history of the People’s Building

Think the debate over the Holy City’s ever-rising skyline started in recent years? Think again. The controversy over tall buildings dates all the way back to 1909, with the construction of the People’s Office Building– a.k.a. Charleston’s first skyscraper.

You see, while some saw the development of an eight-story office building at 18 Broad Street as Charleston’s entrance into the 20th century, others saw it as a threat to the Holy City’s strictly four-story skyline. I wonder how they’d feel knowing 100 years later, it wouldn’t even grace the top five list of downtown’s tallest buildings.

By the numbers:

8 stories.
2 white marble leopards were installed out front in 1936.
1909. The year construction of the ‘skyscraper’ began.
340 pounds. The weight of former president William Howard Taft– who some say visited Charleston to view the new construction, + rode to the top of it in what was then a very state-of-the-art steel frame elevator.
$16,500,000. The most recent price to buy the building’s two-story penthouse apartment.
$11,749,010 dollars worth of national currency was printed from this building while it was being used for its original purpose– the Peoples National Bank of Charleston.
100%. The percent totality of the solar eclipse over Charleston in 2017. ABC News’ David Muir provided national coverage of the spectacle from atop the People’s Building.

ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir atop the People’s Building for the 2017 Solar Eclipse, along with Harry, one of the building’s four-legged residents | Photo by @harry.henning

If you build it, they will complain

The idea of putting an unprecedented eight-story office building on Broad Street was first envisioned by then-mayor R. Goodwyn Rhett. Construction was complete (and Rhett’s dream realized) in 1911. Charlestonians showed up to its opening celebration just so they could ride the fancy, steel frame elevators.

Another one of the building’s first guests? President William Howard Taft, who was a personal friend of Rhett. Upon arriving on the top floor, Taft reportedly reacted by saying, “I don’t believe that it did ruin the skyline, but if it did the view from up here makes it worth it.”

View from atop the People’s Building | Photo by @janettewall

The terra cotta tower was originally owned + inhabited by The People’s Bank of South Carolina. When the bank shut down in 1936, the building was purchased by Southeastern Securities Co., who installed two leopards made of Italian marble outside its doors.

Ultimately, one of the leopards met an ugly demise at the hands of vandals, + the other was promptly moved to a more secure spot indoors. In 2014, an art student at CofC made a mold of the last-leopard-standing + used it to recreate its long lost partner. It, along with another kitty clone, were put back on guard outside, while their marble forefather continues to hold it down inside.

One of two leopard sculptures outside the People’s Building | Photo by CHStoday

For the remainder of the 20th century, the building mostly contained office space; but as the millennium neared, its upper stories were converted to condos. Most notably, the recently widowed Terri Henning purchased the top two floors + rooftop garden, and promptly (or, over the course of four years, rather) transformed the space into a penthouse apartment that’s maybe better described as a work of art.

A bathroom inside the People’s Building penthouse apartment | Photo by @r1sky_biz

The 5,800 sq. ft. palace– I mean, apartment– boasts its own entrance hall; a grand staircase between floors; a gameroom; and, best of all, a jaw-dropping 72 windows looking out to 360-degree views of Charleston. Talk about natural light.

Does that sound like your dream home? Well, good news; it was put on the market earlier this year, + you can make it yours for an easy $16.5 million.

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What do you think, Charleston? Is the People’s Office Building a regrettable eyesore, or an unforgettable landmark? Let us know in the comments. ⬇

– Jen