General Life Insurance Building

Philip Johnson (Johnson/Burgee)
1974-77




The front facade

Located across a plaza from Louis Sullivan's Wainwright Building, this corporate headquarters is in a prominent location. The plan is a square bisected diagonally with one resulting triangular section lifted up. A huge cylinder--the lobby--is inserted in the center.

Views of the front

The entrance with the cylindrical lobby area

 

A corner

Various textures enhance the building. The glass curtain wall (sometimes called "plaid"), the red brick, and the stark black metal columns, both inside and outside, add variety to the surface treatments.

Views of the interior with the ceiling rising over 100 feet




The bridges across the lobby area to offices, the dramatic elevator shaft, the sculptural staircase, and the elevator walled with glass.




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Copyright © Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.

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