Corporate Facility Rehabilitation

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CIGNA Corporate Headquarters

Rehabilitation of a Mid-Century Modern Corporate Headquarters

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Although not always thought of as "historic," mid-century modern buildings are now reaching 50 years of age and  many may be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  Post-war modern buildings pose unique challenges and opportunities for property owners. Their sleek, iconic designs stand the test of time but because many of these buildings utilized uncommon materials and  new construction methods, they can be challenging to rehabilitate in a way that meets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. MacRostie Historic Advisors has advised owners on a number of projects involving the tax-advantaged rehabilitation of mid-century modern buildings.

We served as the historic tax credit consultant for CIGNA in the rehabilitation of the Wilde Building, formerly the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company Headquarters. Designed by noted architect Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and completed in 1957, the 820,000 square-foot building is architecturally significant as a pioneering example of the International Style used for a corporate headquarters building set on a large suburban campus. The building's significance is augmented by the collaborative design team approach that utilized the talents of leading artists of the period, specifically interior designer Florence Knoll and sculptor Isamu Noguchi, whose sculpture grouping, "The Family," remains a prominent feature on the campus.

The scope of work included systems upgrades and modernization of interior office suites for continued use as CIGNA's employee  and executive office space. MacRostie Historic Advisors worked closely with the project team to develop a scope of work compatible with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and secured the necessary approvals from the State Historic Preservation Agency (Connecticut Historic Preservation and Museum Division) and the National Park Service. As part of the project, MacRostie staff also prepared and submitted a National Register nomination for the building. The building was formally listed on the Register in January of 2010.

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MacRostie Historic Advisors LLC, 1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 420,
Washington, DC 20036, (202) 483-2020 tel / (202) 483-2080 fax
Historic Tax Credit Consultants