AEP Building

{{short description|Skyscraper in Columbus, Ohio}}

{{for|the American Education Press Building in Columbus|American Education Press Building}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox building

|name = AEP Building

|image = AEP Building from Rhodes State.jpg

|image_size = 200px

|caption = View from Rhodes State Office Tower

|location = 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, Ohio

|coordinates = {{coord|39.964949|-83.005781|region:US-OH|display=inline,title}}

|mapframe-zoom = 14

|mapframe-marker = building-alt1

|mapframe-marker-color = #545454

|status =

|start_date =

|completion_date = 1983

|opening =

|building_type = Office

|antenna_spire =

|roof = {{convert|456|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|top_floor =

|floor_count = 31

|elevator_count =

|cost =

|floor_area = {{convert|759,997|sqft|abbr=on}}

|architect = Abramovitz, Harris & Kingsland

|structural_engineer=

|main_contractor = Turner Construction Company

|developer =

|owner =

|management =

|references = {{cite web|title=AEP Building|url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/aep-building/12628|website=Skyscraper Center|publisher=CTBUH|accessdate=2017-07-26}}

}}

The AEP Building is a {{cvt|456|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} skyscraper in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. It was completed in 1983 and has 31 floors. Abramovitz, Harris & Kingsland designed the building following a modernist architectural style. The AEP Building is the 8th tallest building in Columbus. It has served as the headquarters of the American Electric Power (AEP) since the company relocated from New York City in 1983.

History

In 1979, American Electric Power (AEP) confirmed the company would be moving their headquarters from New York City to Columbus, Ohio. This move was part of the 1968 acquisition deal to merge with the Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric Co (C&SOE).{{Cite web |date=October 16, 1979 |title=Confirmation is Expected On AEP's Move to Columbus |url=https://login.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/login?qurl=https://infoweb.newsbank.com%2fapps%2fnews%2fdocument-view%3fp%3dWORLDNEWS%26t%3dfavorite%3aCOLUMBUS%21Columbus%252520Dispatch%252520Historical%252520and%252520Current%26sort%3d_rank_%3aD%26page%3d1%26fld-base-0%3dalltext%26maxresults%3d20%26val-base-0%3d%2522AEP%2520Building%2522%26docref%3dimage%2fv2%3a1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-162BE13A95166403%402444163-162B87C7ACEF47E8%400-162B87C7ACEF47E8%40 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}} To encourage 1,500 New York employees to relocate, AEP offered relocation assistance, including rent stabilization for 36 months, an interest-free loan when purchasing a home, a company contribution towards the cost of a car, and travel reimbursement.{{Cite web |date=January 9, 1980 |title=House and Car Loans, Rent Subsidies Sweeten AEP Staff Move to Columbus |url=https://login.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/login?qurl=https://infoweb.newsbank.com%2fapps%2fnews%2fdocument-view%3fp%3dWORLDNEWS%26t%3dfavorite%3aCOLUMBUS%21Columbus%252520Dispatch%252520Historical%252520and%252520Current%26sort%3d_rank_%3aD%26page%3d1%26fld-base-0%3dalltext%26maxresults%3d20%26val-base-0%3d%2522AEP%2520Building%2522%26docref%3dimage%2fv2%3a1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-162D1FBB13C2B472%402444248-162C2336662D9586%400-162C2336662D9586%40 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}}

In July 1980, the company announced its plans to build a 32-story headquarters in downtown Columbus on a 5.3-acre site between Spring and Long Streets. The building was designed by and Abramovitz, Harris & Kingsland and takes cues from the nearby Nationwide Building and surrounded by parkland. The all-electric building was designed with eight-sides to conserve energy.{{Cite web |date=July 29, 1980 |title=AEP to Build Tower on Macaroni Blvd |url=https://login.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/login?qurl=https://infoweb.newsbank.com%2fapps%2fnews%2fdocument-view%3fp%3dWORLDNEWS%26t%3dfavorite%3aCOLUMBUS%21Columbus%252520Dispatch%252520Historical%252520and%252520Current%26sort%3d_rank_%3aD%26page%3d1%26fld-base-0%3dalltext%26maxresults%3d20%26val-base-0%3d%2522AEP%2520Building%2522%26docref%3dimage%2fv2%3a1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-164031D06C3399A1%402444450-16400F6A45E42410%400-16400F6A45E42410%40 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}}

At the front of the building are two sculptures created by George Greenamyer. The sculptures were turbine rotors, which came from the former Philo Power Plant in Philo, Ohio and the Twin Branch Power Plant in Mishawaka, Indiana.{{cite web |title=Turbines: Twin Branch Unit #4 & Philo Unit #6, (sculpture) |url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1545N6996D78H.3667&profile=ariall&uri=full=3100001~!315035~!0#focus |accessdate=December 28, 2018 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}} The sculptures were designed to pay tribute to the high tech history of the electric industry.{{Cite web |date=October 9, 1983 |title=High-tech history converted to art at AEP building |url=https://login.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/login?qurl=https://infoweb.newsbank.com%2fapps%2fnews%2fdocument-view%3fp%3dWORLDNEWS%26t%3dfavorite%3aCOLUMBUS%21Columbus%252520Dispatch%252520Historical%252520and%252520Current%26sort%3d_rank_%3aD%26page%3d3%26fld-base-0%3dalltext%26maxresults%3d20%26val-base-0%3d%2522AEP%2520Building%2522%26docref%3dimage%2fv2%3a1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-164587B5B87810DD%402445617-16454C3A437581E9%4043-16454C3A437581E9%40 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

  • {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070218105447/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=aepbuilding-columbus-oh-usa Emporis]}}
  • [http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1141 Skyscraperpage]