John Hancock Building (1960-62)

JohnHancock2, originally uploaded by regional.modernism.

Gordon Bunschaft's design of the concrete exoskeleton distinguishes the John Hancock Building (now known as K&B Plaza) as the finest of four buildings by corporate architects Skidmore, Owings & Merill in New Orleans. Nolan, Norman & Nolan served as associate architects. Fountain by Isamu Noguchi. AIA Merit Award, 1963.

[F. Stock; photo: TSA NOVA]

One Shell Square (1972)

In April 1970 piles were driven 210 feet deep for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill's 51-story office tower for Shell Oil Company in the square bound by Poydras, Carondelet, St. Charles and Perdido streets.

The 212.45 m (697.0 ft) skyscraper, 700 car garage and landscaped plaza were completed in 1972 and recognized as the 'Most Outstanding Structure' in 1974 by the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce. Associate architects were August Perez and Associates. It is the tallest building in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.

Other local buildings designed by SOM include the Pan American Life Company (2400 Canal), John Hancock Building (1055 St. Charles), and Bank of New Orleans Building (1010 Common).

[F. Stock, photo:New Orleans Virtual Archive Tulane School of Architecture  ]

A great day on Canal Street

City Council upholds the HDLC designation of the Automotive Life Building (Curtis and Davis) at 4140 Canal. 
Pan American Life Insurance Co. (2400 Canal, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, 1952) to get an historic restoration. 
see press release at http://docomomo-nola.blogspot.com

Pan American Life Insurance

The Pan American building, 1952, designed by Skidmore Owings and Merrill marks a turning point in New Orleans corporate architecture. Located on the 2400 block of Canal St. the Pan American Life Insurance building is set back from the street occupies an entire city block. The building is one of the first corporate buildings in New Orleans to adapt the international style to local conditions. Employing a skin of metal fins to block the sun and a steel structure that allow spans of over 60’, the building marks a turning point in corporate local modernist architecture. Originally located in a residential district, the Pan American building rises to a mere 6 stories with a 2-story plinth in the back.

One Shell Square

cbd 113, originally uploaded by regional.modernism.

One Shell Square at 701 Poydras is New Orleans tallest building. It represents the pinnicale of the oil boom building boom which redefined the CBD during the late 60s and 70s. It also stands as a perfect example of Corporate Modernism being designed by the leading American firm of this style, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. So much so that it is nearly a direct copy of the One Shell Plaza in Houston also designed by SOM. The building is also historcaly important because it is one of the first skyscrapers built employing a tube structure, a concept which led to the bundled tube system, which made possible America's tallest building the Sear Tower in Chicago also by SOM.

Entry by: Scott Burroughs