[1] The property at the northwest corner of Water and Wisconsin Street was a prime central location of historic significance.Solomon Juneau's original cabin and trading post had stood at this spot on the Milwaukee River, considered the "starting point" of the city.Around 1890 the property was purchased by brewer Frederick Pabst, who demolished the Ludington building and hired architect Solon Spencer Beman to design his headquarters, a magnificent symbol of his brewery empire, in its place.[3][2] The Pabst Building measured fourteen stories, about 235 feet tall from the sidewalk to the top of the copper tower.[2] It was constructed of brown brick ornamented with terra cotta with a magnificent granite arch at its entrance.