The Burwell
| Company type | Building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Headquarters | Knoxville, Tennessee , United States |
| Products | Residential condominiums, commercial office space, tavern |
The Burwell, situated at the intersection of Gay Street and Clinch Avenue in Knoxville, Tennessee, stands as Knoxville’s most historic skyscraper, positioned directly above the Tennessee Theatre. It provides panoramic vistas of notable sites including the Sunsphere, Krutch Park, Gay Street, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Kuwohi, Mount Le Conte, and the Tennessee River.
Design
The architectural firm Richards, McCarty & Bulford designed the Burwell, with construction executed by George A. Fuller Construction—famed for pioneering early skyscraper projects. This building is a prime example of Second Renaissance Revival architecture. Originally completed in 1908, it was expanded with an additional section above the Tennessee Theatre in 1928. Until the erection of the Holston in 1913, it held the title of Knoxville’s tallest structure.
The main entrance at 602 South Gay Street lies adjacent to the Tennessee Theatre and is marked by the theater’s distinctive sign near the building’s southwest corner. The L-shaped edifice features yellow brick on facades facing the street, while red brick is used on other sides.
Its exterior embodies Second Renaissance Revival characteristics: from the ground floor through the second level, pilasters and entablatures form a solid base; a cornice delineates between the second and third floors; a terra cotta belt course runs between the ninth and tenth stories; and atop sits a parapet crowned by a substantial cornice adorned with interlaced dentils. Window arrangements alternate between single and double bays around a central axis, with some rear-facing windows incorporating vintage pebbled “chicken wire” glass. Inside, the lobby boasts Tennessee marble flooring and elevator landings, walls clad in Carrara marble, and retains an original post office box complete with a mail chute servicing upper floors.
History
During the 1790s, a two-story log building occupying what is now the Burwell site served as classrooms for Blount College, which later evolved into the University of Tennessee. Initially, ownership belonged to Knoxville Banking and Trust Company.
The steel framework was finalized in 1907, commemorated by a "topping off" event featuring Maud the mule—the construction crew’s mascot named after a comic strip figure. In 1918, George Polley, famously dubbed the “human fly,” ascended the 166-foot tower in less than half an hour.
In 1912, Southern Railway Company acquired this property to house its Knoxville ticket office. Five years later, in 1917, C.B. Atkin Realty Company purchased it and renamed it the Burwell in honor of Mary Atkin (née Burwell). The Dick Broadcasting Company took ownership in 1981—the same year it earned placement on the National Register of Historic Places.
Over time, prominent tenants such as the Knoxville Mercury and Metro Pulse newspapers operated from within its walls. In 2007, upper levels were transformed from commercial offices into residential condominiums.
Currently, Clancy’s Tavern occupies the Gay Street ground floor alongside the Burwell lobby and Tennessee Theatre entrance. The mezzanine and second floors are utilized by various businesses, while residential units occupy the top eight stories.
See also
References
- Bank buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee
- Skyscrapers located in Knoxville, Tennessee
- Residential structures completed in 1908
- Renaissance Revival style architecture in Tennessee
- 1908 establishments within Tennessee
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Knoxville, Tennessee
- Residential high-rises in Tennessee
- Bank buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee