Cummins Corporate Office Building Explained

Cummins Corporate Office Building
Former Names:Cerealine building
Image Alt:Aerial view of the building
Building Type:Corporate headquarters
Architectural Style:Modernist
Structural System:Precast concrete and glass
Owner:Cummins
Address:500 Jackson Street
Location Town:Columbus, Indiana
Location Country:United States
Coordinates:39.2061°N -85.9241°W
Completion Date:1983
Floor Area:200000square feet
Architect:Kevin Roche
Architecture Firm:Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates

The Cummins Corporate Office Building in Columbus, Indiana is a modernist office building designed by Kevin Roche.[1] Constructed in 1983, the building serves as the corporate headquarters of the Cummins engine company. It was constructed on an old railroad yard and is unique for being built around the Cerealine Building, which was Cummins' first factory building.[2]

Background

Cummins CEO J. Irwin Miller had "a lifelong interest in architecture", and in the 1950s established a foundation to pay architecture fees for new public buildings in Columbus and Bartholomew County.[3] When Cummins decided to construct a new corporate headquarters, it turned to Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Kevin Roche.[4]

Structure

The building is built on a three-block plot of land that formerly served as a rail yard in downtown Columbus. As part of its distinctive construction, Roche built the new precast concrete structure around the original Cerealine Building, which served as Cummins' first factory and administrative offices.[2] [5] The original building was also renovated to serve as the cafeteria for the employees of the company.[2]

Roche used precast concrete and glass as his primary building elements in the 200000square feet building.[6] Jack Curtis executed the landscaping for the facility, including the large open green area on the eastern side that is open to the public as a park.[6] As of 2013, it remained in use as Cummins' corporate headquarters.[7]

In 2017 Cummins began a $50 million renovation of the building, scheduled for completion in 2019.[8] [9]

Sculpture

As part of the construction, Roche incorporated a Rudolph de Harak sculpture known as the Exploded Engine in the lobby of the building.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Columbus, Indiana: Modernism on the prairie . 2010-06-10 . Breining . Greg . 2007-08-24 . Star Tribune . https://web.archive.org/web/20110117132508/http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/11288606.html . 2011-01-17 . dead .
  2. Web site: Cummins Engine Company . 2010-06-10 . Sullivan . Mary Ann . Bluffton University.
  3. http://cmipef.cummins.com/CMIPEFMIG/CumminsNA/SiteContent/en/BinaryAsset/Attachments/CumminsFoundationArchitectureProgram.pdf "The Cummins Foundation: History".
  4. Web site: Kevin Roche . 2010-06-10 . 2010 . The Hyatt Foundation . https://web.archive.org/web/20100810172123/http://www.pritzkerprize.com/laureates/1982/index.html . 2010-08-10 . dead .
  5. Web site: Columbus Indiana Pictures and Photos From Bygone Days . 2010-06-10 . Historic Columbus Indiana . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110315032918/http://www.historiccolumbusindiana.org/pics/pics8.htm . 2011-03-15 .
  6. Web site: Architects of Ireland - Kevin Roche . 2010-06-10 . Clerkin . Paul . 2009 . Archiseek.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090216111732/http://ireland.archiseek.com/architects_ireland/kevin_roche/cummins.html . February 16, 2009 .
  7. http://www.wishtv.com/news/local/south-central/cummins-building-blends-in-with-city-by-design "Cummins building blends in with city by design".
  8. Web site: Watch the video, view the renderings: Cummins to upgrade global headquarters in Columbus; new railroad overpass planned. Staff Reports. 19 February 2018.
  9. Web site: Columbus announces railroad project, Cummins renovations totaling $80 million. 5 July 2017. 19 February 2018.