Paul–Helen Building

The Paul–Helen Building is a historic structure located in downtown Iowa City, Iowa, notable for being the first new building in the central business district in over two decades, marking a significant period of growth in the area during the 1910s. Designed by Frank X. Freyder, it showcases Chicago school architecture with Prairie School influences, featuring steel framing and distinctive banded windows. The building has a rich history, originally housing the Iowa City Gas & Electric Company and various retail spaces, and was named after the children of its original owners. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and is now part of the Iowa City Downtown Historic District, making it an interesting site for both tourists and researchers interested in early 20th-century architecture and local history.