Delmarva Power & Light Building

Delmarva Power & Light Building
Five-story limestone building in downtown
Building from the intersection of Market & 6th
Located in downtown Wilmington in northern Delaware
Located in downtown Wilmington in northern Delaware
Located in downtown Wilmington in northern Delaware
Located in downtown Wilmington in northern Delaware
Location600 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Coordinates39°44′31″N 75°33′00″W / 39.74194°N 75.55000°W / 39.74194; -75.55000
Built1932, 1955
Built byUnited Engineers and Contractors, Inc.
ArchitectBrown & Whiteside
Architectural styleArt Deco
Websitedcad.edu
Part ofDowntown Wilmington Commercial Historic District (ID10000079[2])
MPSMarket Street MRA (64000105)
NRHP reference No.85000149[1]
Significant dates
Designated NRHPJanuary 30, 1985
Designated CPMarch 24, 2017

The Delmarva Power & Light Building, also known as the DCAD Building, is a historic office building in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. The former headquarters of Delmarva Power & Light (DP&L) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

History

DP&L decided to build the headquarters in 1931 which was completed the subsequent year. While the original building was four stories, it was engineered with a fifth floor in mind which was eventually added in 1954. In 1972, the company moved their headquarters to 8th & King and the building sat vacant for a decade before Chase Manhattan Bank leased the space.[3]

In 1997, the newly created Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) took over the building from the bank to use as their main academic building with classrooms, studio space, and offices.[4] In 2021, DCAD sold their adjacent resident hall and used some of the proceeds to refurbish the interior.[5]

In 2024, the school announced that they would permanently close down.[6] The Buccini Pollin Group, a major Wilmington developer, later purchased the building for $3.5 million.[7]

Architecture

The pilasters rising to the fourth-floor parapet

The Art Deco building faces Market Street with an Indiana limestone facade consisting of six bays. Granite piers frame the main entrance which is below a transom containing a lightning bolt motif.[3]

The first floor sits on a black granite base. The second through fourth floors have four triangular fluted limestone pilasters with floral capitals. The fourth-floor has a parapet featuring stylized cresting in limestone.[2] The fifth floor is a plain brick penthouse.[3] The 6th Street side of the building is less ornate, consisting largely of painted brick.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System – Delmarva Power & Light Building (#85000149)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c McMahon, Kevin (September 9, 2016) [March 4, 2016]. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Downtown Wilmington Commercial Historic District". National Park Service. National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Delmarva Power & Light Building". National Register of Historic Places. 1984. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via National Archives.
  4. ^ Vuocolo, Alex (March 9, 2017). "Delaware College of Art and Design sticks to two-year model". Delaware Business Times. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  5. ^ Owens, Jacob (January 26, 2021). "DCAD sells Saville residence hall for $3.3M". Delaware Business Times. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  6. ^ Powers, Kelly (May 23, 2024). "Delaware College of Art and Design to close permanently in Wilmington". The News Journal. Gannett. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Tabeling, Katie (December 5, 2024). "BPG buys DCAD building for $3.5M". Delaware Business Times. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
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