 Though Carpenter was based in New York by then, he was born and raised outside of Nashville, Tennessee.It was the 17th largest office building in the world at the time of its construction, it is considered a good example of the skyscraper developed by the famed Louis Sullivan and the Chicago School style.The Hurt Building was constructed during a turbulent economic period between 1913 and 1926 that was marred by four recessions as well as World War I, which delayed the construction of the wings and light court of the building until 1924.