Joe Imel/Daily NewsWilliam Hood, of Bowling Green, and a glazer at Bowling Green glass, moves a window frame after putting vinyl stripping on it in the Miliken Building Tuesday. "I been in and out building since I was a kid," said Hood.

It doesn’t quite meet the age requirements, but the Milliken Building nonetheless was named to the National Register of Historic Places this week.

Designed by Edwin A. Keeble and completed in 1963, the building is considered to be of International Style of design, according to architect Brian Clements. He filed the nomination form for the listing.

Typically, buildings must be 50 years old for the standard listing, so this one was applied for in the exceptional category. Its architect is quite famous for his designs around the region, including the Life and Casualty Tower in Nashville, from where he hails.

“The building was placed on the list because it is considered exceptionally significant as a piece of modern office building design in the context of Bowling Green,” Clements said. “It was my suggestion to (real estate agent) Jim (Bullington) and the owner that they nominate the building. I think it is significant as a modern piece in our region. On the national scale, it probably is not that significant. But on a regional scale, it is one of the few examples that really embodies modern design principles, and second, it’s intact. There have been very few modifications to the building. Downstairs, the main office has its original rug, lighting and a lot of the original finishes. That’s really unusual.”

That office is occupied by the Milliken law firm.

But the building is owned now by Chester Zoeller, a Louisville resident and Western Kentucky University graduate.

Zoeller said the building at 1039 College St. was constructed the year he graduated from WKU.

“I always had a fond feeling for Bowing Green, and when I had an opportunity to invest in three or four different properties down there, including the Milliken Building (about eight years ago), I did.”

Zoeller, a retired attorney, said he had an affinity for the building.

“I thought it was a great building,” he said. “I’ve put about $250,000 into it bringing it back to the way it was originally constructed. It was built like a battleship. All the interior walls are poured concrete.”

The building’s interior has terrazzo floors, cantilevered balconies, glass block, brick and other materials.

While the building is four stories, it had originally been planned for eight stories.

“It is constructed such that without a great deal of additional reinforcement they could have added four more floors later,” Zoeller said.

Since buying the building, Zoeller has contracted for work that has included roof repairs, elevator modifications, interior and exterior painting, as well as other things.

This week, workers were installing historically accurate, yet efficient, aluminum windows in the building, according to Bullington.

Bullington said work is continuing on other parts of the interior of the 13,200-square-foot building that has about 4,500 square feet vacant.

As a result of being listing on the National Register, Zoeller can apply for tax credits for some of the work that’s been done on the building.

“I really recommend that owners of historic commercial buildings and even some residential properties take advantage of this credit program,” Clements said.

Zoeller said he hopes to preserve the building for generations to come.

“I think it’s still a very attractive building and unique,” he said. “And hopefully something Bowling Green will be proud of.”