ALICO Building


The ALICO Building is a 22-story office building in downtown Waco, Texas, United States, located at the intersection of Austin and 5th Street. The building is currently owned and operated by the American-Amicable Life Insurance Company of Texas. At 282 feet tall, it is currently the tallest building located in Waco.

History

The ALICO building was built in 1911 by the architectural firm Sanguinet & Staats for the Amicable Life Insurance Company at a cost of $755,000, and was completed in one year. It is the second oldest skyscraper built in Texas, after the Praetorian Building in Dallas, built in the previous year.
The ALICO Building was not heavily damaged by the 1953 Waco tornado outbreak, unlike many buildings in downtown Waco. It swayed several feet when directly hit by a tornado, although the building escaped severe damage or collapse.
In 1965, Amicable Life Insurance Company and American Life Insurance Company merged to become the American-Amicable Life Insurance Company, the current tenant of the building. In 1966, the building underwent renovations, including the addition of the large neon sign at the top of the building displaying the acronym "ALICO".
In 1982, the ALICO building was designated a historical landmark by the Texas Historical Commission. In 2012, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Waco Downtown Historic District.