GREENVILLE ROOTS

Daniel building was once tallest in the Carolinas

Judith Bainbridge
Columnist
A 2007 picture of the old Daniel building when it was referred to as the BB&T building. The building is now known as The Landmark building or by the Windstream company logo attached near the top.

The Daniel Building was nearing completion in September 1965 when The Greenville News covered its construction in detail, even though occupancy would come several months later.

At 25 stories, it would be the tallest building in the Carolinas, and one that required legislative approval, since South Carolina’s maximum height limit was then 17 stories. Charles Daniel, in one of his last public appearances before his death, broke ground for it on July 29, 1964, proud that the new structure would serve as an anchor for Main Street, as well as a symbol of his construction company, already one of the largest in the world.

Built of white Georgia marble with bronze panels, the skyscraper would offer more than 200,000 square feet of the most desirable office space in the city. In addition to the main building, a six-story parking garage and a 13,000 square foot plaza with fountains were also being constructed.

When it was complete, Daniel Construction would occupy five full floors. The construction payroll for more than 2,000 workers was over $2 million. The total cost of the building was estimated at $8 million.

Editor's note: For more than 140 years, The Greenville News has told the story of our community and the people who live here. Each day this year we are publishing a brief piece of our history – Greenville's story.