The two buildings are rare examples of Art Moderne architecture in Tallahassee. Closely related to Art Deco, the style became popular for public and commercial buildings during the 1930s and early 1940s. Breaking from the traditionalism of the past, the streamlined design evoked modern technology and notions of progress. Many defining features of Art Moderne are visible in the design: smooth walls, a flat roof with a small ledge or parapet at the roof line, and horizontal grooves or lines in the walls that contrast with the vertical structure. The buildings’ current clean, two-toned paint scheme of white (stucco) walls and blue details make this contrast even clearer. Similar to most Art Moderne buildings, the two buildings are almost completely symmetrical with a square-shaped plan and two floors. The placement and number of windows also emphasize the symmetry. The buildings are not identical twins because of the variances of the vertical Art Deco stylistic elements on the front façade of each. Vertical shapes emphasize each front vestibule, two rectangular columns representative of classical fluted columns at 319 and three flutes above the entrance at 325. These vertical elements break up the horizontal emphasis of the rest of the buildings’ details. The design also use simple geometric shapes such as the square geometric motifs in the shape of a grid pattern on top of the windows or the four square tryglyphs above 319’s vestibule, instead of the zig-zags or triangular patterns found on Art Deco buildings. Each building also includes a pair of recessed circles above the vestibules, reminiscent of the common use of round windows in Art Moderne buildings.
