Wells Fargo Plaza (El Paso) Explained

Wells Fargo Plaza
Location:221 North Kansas Street
Status:completed
Groundbreaking Date:January 30, 1970
Completion Date:1971
Building Type:Class A Office Space
Roof:302feet
Main Contractor:C. H. Leavell & Co., Robert E. McKee, Inc.
Top Floor:21
Floor Count:21
Architect:Charles Luckman and Associates

The Wells Fargo Plaza is a high-rise skyscraper located on 221 North Kansas Street in Downtown El Paso, Texas, United States. It opened as the State National Bank Plaza on October 25, 1971. It is 302 feet (92 m) tall.[1] It is designed in the International Style. Originally the tallest tower in El Paso, it was surpassed by the WestStar Tower in 2021.

The tower sits on a base three stories high, then rises to its full height. The repetitive angular windows add another International Style element of blocky appearance and expression of structure.

Ground was broken with a ceremony on January 30, 1971. Construction was handled jointly by two El Paso construction firms, C. H. Leavell & Co. and Robert E. McKee, Inc.[2] Leavell was managing partner of construction with two-thirds of the building contract. McKee held one-third. The two firms agreed to jointly build the structure after bidding identical amounts initially and flipped a coin to determine who would get the controlling two-thirds of the contract.[3]

The tower is lit at night with up to 13 horizontal white lines (originally 17). A U.S. Flag design is used during patriotic holidays, and a Christmas tree design is used during the holiday season. The letters "UTEP" are used during the football and basketball season for the University of Texas at El Paso, and, less frequently, the Texas Tech University logo is also used.

See also

External links

31.7601°N -106.486°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Montes, Aaron . It’s now 18 stories: Downtown tower plan gets big upgrade . May 14, 2018 . El Paso Inc.. May 13, 2019.
  2. Web site: Jan 31, 1970, page 1 - El Paso Times at Newspapers.com . 2024-05-14 . Newspapers.com . en.
  3. Book: Metz, Leon, Claire . Robert E. McKee Master Builder . Robert E. and Evelyn McKee Foundation . 1997 . 0-9646793-1-0 . El Paso, Texas . 351-352.