Bell Telephone Building (St. Louis, Missouri)

The Bell Telephone Building in St. Louis, Missouri, refers to several buildings that served as headquarters for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (later SBC Communications, and now AT&T). The most notable of these is the Art Deco skyscraper located at 1010 Pine Street, often referred to simply as the Bell Building.

This building, constructed between 1924 and 1926, served as the regional headquarters for the Bell system in the southwest. Designed by Mauran, Russell & Crowell, it stands as a significant example of early 20th-century skyscraper architecture and a landmark within the St. Louis cityscape. Its design incorporates stepped setbacks, characteristic of the Art Deco style, and features elaborate ornamentation.

The building housed a large number of employees responsible for managing the telephone network across a large geographic area. It was a hub for telecommunications operations, engineering, and administration. Over the decades, the company's presence expanded, leading to the construction and use of other buildings in the St. Louis area.

Following the mergers and acquisitions that transformed the telecommunications industry, the building's use and ownership have evolved. While no longer serving as the primary headquarters for AT&T, the Bell Telephone Building remains a recognizable part of St. Louis' architectural heritage and a reminder of the city's historical significance in the telecommunications sector. It has been repurposed for various uses, often involving office space and residential units.