Liberty Building

418 – 6th Ave

Completed in 1924

Designed by Proudfoot Bird and Rawson for $1 million ($13.6 million in 2012 $’s)

NRHP 2010 Criteria A & C

John Benson was the contractor and president of the development company

12 stories, 1st floor is clad in limestone, the shaft is clad in creamy yellow brick; a band of dentils separates the 2nd and 3rd floors.

There is a stone entablature just above the 12th floor, which includes a frieze, dentil and a cornice.  The main entrance is highly detailed with a vaulted ceiling and uses terra cotta and green marble.

Bankers Life occupied floors three through ten until they moved to their new building on High in 1939.

WHO Radio was started in 1924 by the president of Bankers Life, George Kuhns, and broadcast from the 11th floor until they were purchased by CBC and moved in 1932.

Ronald Reagan was a sportscaster for WHO from 1934 -1937.

After Bankers Life moved American Mutual Life occupied the building.

The 2005 renovation into condos and support areas was built by Nelson Development.

Slow real estate sales led to current renovation of gutted floors for Hilton Hotel.