Polychromed terra cotta enlivens the Gilmer Building in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina. Built between 1924 and 1926, it rises as a modest, two-story, rectangular brick block whose measured footprint — 80 feet by 86 feet — gives it a solid, purposeful presence on the street. Up close you can see the intent in brick and ornament: the facade is enlivened by polychromed terra cotta panels and ornamentation that catch light and draw the eye.
Its proportions are straightforward, its two stories speaking of everyday commerce and city life in a compact, elegant form. The building’s distinctive materials and craftsmanship were recognized when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, a formal nod to its architectural significance. As you stand here, imagine the rhythms of business and pedestrian life that this compact rectangle has witnessed since its construction, its terra cotta details both decorative and declarative.
Picture the polychromed terra cotta panels and ornamentation that give this compact brick block its character.