Exploring the Historic Buick Automobile Company Building
Kansas City’s first company to build a warehouse and dealership
The historic Buick Automobile Company Building at 216 (originally 220) Admiral Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on May 5, 2004. This building was constructed in 1907, making it 116 years old. This building represents an era in Kansas City where automobiles were being marketed, showcased, and serviced in a structure with storefront windows.
This building has three stories and contains architectural details reflecting the Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Tudor Revival style. The architect was Frank S. Rea. The firm of Smith, Rea and Lovitt was active between 1910 and 1921, until the deaths of Lovitt in 1920 and Rea in 1921. Their firm is credited for designing the Rialto Building, Dwight Building, and the Kansas City Club Building.
In 1934, a brick three-story addition was added to the building by General Motors Company, and in 1958, an addition of two stories was added to the rear.
The first floor was the automobile showroom and the basement and third floor were auto repair shops. There was a garage on the second floor. The foundation of the building is concrete, and the walls are brick.
