Abdou Building

Henry Trost designed this seven-story reinforced concrete building formally for the Rio Grande Valley Bank in 1909. Trost's intention was to reveal the decorative possibilities of concrete and the useful building material. In 1925, El Paso businessman Sam Abdou purchased the building following the bank's defaulting. The quadrilateral site accounts, in part, for the building's distinction of lacking any parallel facades. Image Description: In this black and white photo, the building formerly known as the Rio Grande Valley Bank is depicted. The building was designed by Henry Trost and later purchased by Sam Abdou. The seven story building is said to have revealed Trost’s decorative possibilities of concrete and useful material.

Area: Central / Downtown

Collection: Aultman Collection

Source: El Paso Public Library

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History