North Carolina School Book Depository
The old NC School Book Depository building is located at 811 West Hargett Street. The particular part of W. Hargett Street that it occupies is a bit of an anomoly, as it exists for about two blocks before it turns in to Snow Ave., before turning back in to W. Hargett Street.
This building is now home to BFE Architects. Sadly, they don’t have a web site. You can find them on the web at http://bfe-architecture.com.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS feed
Subscribe to posts by Email
Sign up for the Newsletter
06/06/2008
BFR Architecture website:
http://www.bfe-architecture.com/
06/10/2008
Here’s a little more info on the NC School Book Depository building, for those that might be interested:
“The North Carolina School Book Depository was built in 1925 for the sole purpose of housing textbooks for the state and county school systems in North Carolina. In the old days, textbooks would be transported to Raleigh via train; the textbooks would be offloaded from the trains into the warehouse through the rear downstairs entrance on the south side of the building…then loaded onto delivery trucks … for delivery to schools across the state….The building is heavy timber construction with brick walls 13″ thick. The front wall of the building was constructed to align with the street, and is not parallel to the rest of the building. Hargett St [has been]raised about 30″ during the life of this building. The ‘chicken wire’ window panes are original to 1925…The original heart pine structure and maple floors are still in place…” (Excerpted from “Capital Area Preservation Tour: Architecture of Industry.” May 1999)
This office rennovation is an excellent example of adaptive reuse of an historic industrial building. And I think it’s swell the design firm decided to keep the wall-painted sign. You don’t see too many of those around downtown Raleigh anymore!
Now, if only someone would take on the old Melrose Knitting Mill building, the subject of an earlier post on this blog. (What’s The Future Of This Building?)
11/29/2010
It’s now home to BJAC:
http://www.bjac.com
08/10/2012
Do you have copies of “North Carolina and the American Experience”?
Thank you
12/17/2012
Do have any old NC history or NC geography textbooks that I can purchase for my son who is a collector..
10/11/2014
My grandfather was Arthur E. Lewis. He was manager of the depository when I was a youngster (1950/60s). I often joined him when he would go to the warehouse to work. I was facinated by all the different school books and always found something to read. He lived within walking distance on nearby Kinsey St.
08/29/2022
Hello,
This location is now called the “Factory.” We are a co-working/ co-manufacturing center. We have the equipment to support over 7 industries currently, including an amazing photography studio. We provide resources for small business owners and the community. Take a look at our website fir more info, and a virtual tour!
12/13/2023
The NC Book Repository is now the Global Headquarters of WISER Systems. A leading provider of precision positioning and asset tracking systems.