Cummins Corporate Office Building

Cummins Corporate Office Building
Aerial view, Cerealine building center
Former names	Cerealine building
General information
Type	Corporate headquarters
Architectural style	Modernist
Address	500 Jackson Street
Town or city	Columbus, Indiana
Coordinates	39°12′22″N 85°55′27″W / 39.20612°N 85.92405°W / 39.20612; -85.92405Coordinates: 39°12′22″N 85°55′27″W / 39.20612°N 85.92405°W / 39.20612; -85.92405
Completed	1983
Technical details
Structural system	Precast concrete and glass
Floor area	200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2)
Design and construction
Owner	Cummins
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

As part of its commitment to the architecture of Columbus, Indiana, the Cummins engine company provided funds to building projects in the town that made use of world famous architects.^[3] When it decided to construct a new corporate headquarters, it turned to renowned 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 officers.^[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 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m²) 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] The building aged well since its construction. As of 2010^[update] it remains in use by Cummins as its headquarters.^[7]

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]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Breining, Greg (2007-08-24). "Columbus, Indiana: Modernism on the prairie". Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/11288606.html. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Sullivan, Mary Ann. "Cummins Engine Company". Bluffton University. http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/colscummins/colscummins.html. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
3. ^ Bruner, Louise (1987-04-11). "Town is an Outdoor Museum of Architecture". Toledo Blade: pp. E3. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k3sUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8AIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6915,3400338&dq=kevin-roche+cummins&hl=en. Retrieved 2010-06-10. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Kevin Roche". The Hyatt Foundation. 2010. http://www.pritzkerprize.com/laureates/1982/index.html. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
5. ^ "Columbus Indiana Pictures and Photos From Bygone Days". Historic Columbus Indiana. http://www.historiccolumbusindiana.org/pics/pics8.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Clerkin, Paul (2009). "Architects of Ireland - Kevin Roche". Archiseek.com. http://ireland.archiseek.com/architects_ireland/kevin_roche/cummins.html. Retrieved 2010-06-10. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "Building of the Week". The Curator of Shit. 2010-04-10. http://www.curatorofshit.com/building-of-the-week-cummins-inc-of-columbia-indiana/. Retrieved 2010-06-10. ^{[dead link]}