Pahl Building

Pahl Building (Chris S. Martensen Building), 402-406 south 2nd Street; c. 1916; Gus Ladehoff, Builder (and also, Designer). This building is two stories high with a street façade of white glazed terra cotta. Exuberant ornamentation of white glazed terra otta provides decoraive accents to the upper façade. The ground floor has been altered. The street façade is a significant architectural interest with the use of Sullivanesque terra cotta ornamentation. This Louis Sullivan-inspired ornament if highlighted by the placement of the pieces in a neutral field of plain white terra cotta. Although marred somewhat by alterations, the main façade still achieves a simple grace of composition and subtle delight.