Standard Insurance Center Explained

Standard Insurance Center
Former Names:Georgia-Pacific Building
Status:complete
Location:900 SW Fifth Avenue
Portland, Oregon
Coordinates:45.5169°N -122.6782°W
Completion Date:1970
Architect:Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Owner:Standard Insurance Company
Floor Area:459504square feet
Floor Count:29
References:[1]
Map Type:Portland downtown
Building Type:Commercial offices
Roof:111.86m (366.99feet)
Structural Engineer:Glumac International (consulting)
Main Contractor:Andersen Construction Company

The Standard Insurance Center, originally the Georgia-Pacific Building, is a 27-story office building in Portland, Oregon. Completed in 1970, it currently serves as part of the headquarters of The Standard, the brand name under which Standard Insurance Company and other subsidiaries of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., do business. Standard also owns the 16-story Standard Plaza, located two blocks south along 5th Avenue.

History

The Georgia-Pacific Building was commissioned by Georgia-Pacific and designed by the firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).[2] [1] At the time of construction, it was the tallest reinforced concrete building in the world. It was completed in 1970.[1]

When Georgia-Pacific left Portland, the Standard Insurance Company purchased the building in 1984 for $43 million, renamed it Standard Insurance Center, and removed all GP signage.

Details

Standing tall, the tower contains 27 above-ground stories.[1] Valued at $114 million, the structure contains of space.[2] Built of concrete and steel, the tower is considered Modernist in style.[1] One major tenant was the Stoel Rives law firm, which leased the top nine stories at the building[3] until 2016. The Quest, an elaborate sculpture considered Portland’s largest single piece of white sculpted marble, is in front of the building. An untitled chrome sculpture is tucked away in the building's basement.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Emporis building ID 122602 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150409061957/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/122602 . dead . April 9, 2015 . Emporis.
  2. Web site: 900 SW 5th Ave - Downtown - Portland. PortlandMaps. City of Portland. 11 February 2010.
  3. News: James Mayer. Stoel Rives walks away from would-be Park Avenue West office tower . The Oregonian . August 13, 2010 . 31 August 2010.
  4. Web site: Korfhage. Matthew. July 11, 2017. There’s a Hidden, Underground Sculpture Inside the Standard Insurance Center in Downtown Portland. 2020-08-16. Willamette Week. en-US.