History of the Columbian Building
| Constructed in 1888, the building was originally the Wm. C. Knox Building. William Knox’s United States Savings Bank originally occupied the 2nd floor but failed mid 1890’s when the economic boom collapsed. Architecture: Seymour Davis, later State Architect of Kansas (1893-1895), originally designed the building for William Knox’s United States Savings Bank. The Columbian Building is variously described as Eclectic style with a variety of architectural styles, including Egyptian, Romanesque, and Richardsonian Romanesque. The last and probably most important of the building boom structures of the 1880’s, architecturally this is certainly one of the finest late Victorian, Romanesque-Prairie styled edifices in Kansas. By all accounts it was a magnificent and expensive building by 1880’s Topeka standards. |
 |
The original cost was projected to be $50,000 but ended up being $75,000. The plumbing contract alone was said to have been the largest ever in the state at $10,500. The building is approximately 50 feet wide, 130 feet deep and 65 feet high with 5 stories, about 32,500 square feet. The front of the structure is Colorado red sandstone originally painted cream color but the red sandstone seeped through until it was painted its current distinctive red color. The other sides are mostly red brick. Most of the stones have rock faced surfaces, but smoother dressed stone – with what appears to be bush-hammered or peck finish – is used for the entry, arched window trim and for the cornice and upper portion of the building. According to the 1913 fire insurance map the wall thicknesses are 24 inches for the 2nd floor, 20 inches for the 3rd floor, 16 inches for the 4th floor and 12 inches for the 5th floor, presumably the 1st floor wall thickness is 30 inches.
There is much decorative interest on the south facade including the oriel centered on the 4th and 5th floors, the main entry with its large flanking semicircular arched windows, the west column carving centers around a squirrel and on the east column a bird and a snake. Originally the entry way had stone steps from the street level to provide access to the building on what is now the 2nd floor originally occupied by Knox’s United States Savings Bank as evidenced today by the custom doorknobs with a stylized “K” embossed in the brass.
 |
The entry had been changed to the present ground floor entry by the 1920’s. A fire of unknown origin caused extensive damage to the upper two floors in 1937. The 5th floor has historically renovated in 1977 and the 4th was elegantly returned to its historical origins in 2002. Unique interior features include the original floor tile on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors, the stacked vaults on the all floors (3 on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th and 2 on the 5th) most with the original vault doors, the large vault on the 1st floor with its magnificent huge door and the original, still used, manually operated elevator. The Columbian Building Since 1893: The U. S. Weather Bureau had offices atop the 5th floor from 1902-1907. Colonel John Dean renamed the building The Columbian Building in 1920 after organizing the Columbian Title & Trust Company which, along with Columbian Securities Corporation, were long time occupants. |
Over the years, the city’s most prestigious law firms, real estate agencies, insurers, brokerage companies, prominent Topeka businessmen, political organizations and other institutions had their offices in the Columbian Building.
| In early 1901 Carrie Nation, on a saloon smashing visit to town, sneaked into the Columbian Building to meet an attorney and escape from an angry crowd that had been following her. The mob broke in and began a search of the premises; at the same time she was led down the back way to the basement boiler room and out the back door while T. D. Humphreys, the agent for the building, saw that something had to be done so he rushed into his office and secured an unloaded revolver and finally succeeded in bluffing the crowd out of the building. Ownership: The Columbian Building changed hands many times after the demise of the William Knox’s United States Savings Bank until purchased by Col. John Dean Sr. in 1919. The building stayed in his trust until purchased by Denis M. Kenney in early 1977. Mr. Kenney was responsible for the initial historical renovation and placement on the National Historic Register in late 1977. |
 |
The Columbian Building was purchased by Niki and Mark Schneider (NJS Investments, Inc.) October 15, 2001, and the 4th floor was historically renovated for, and is occupied by, Mr. Schneider’s financial services firm Plan Professionals, Inc.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment
to view available office and/or suite space.
{ 785-357-7777 or 888-575-2378} { info@columbianbuilding.com }
{ Home } { For Lease } { Gallery } { History } { Contact Us }