Humana Building
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Humana Building, also known as the Humana Tower,[1] is a skyscraper in Downtown, Louisville, Kentucky, located at 500 West Main Street. The 27-story structure is headquarters of the Humana Corporation and known for its postmodern architecture. It was designed by Michael Graves. Construction began in October 1982 and was completed in May 1985.
Each side of the building is designed slightly differently, up to a sloping pyramid style for the upper few floors. This basic design has led to the tower being locally known as "the Milk Carton". The building is also known for its exterior construction of flat pink granite. The north facade's loggia is respectful of the older downtown architecture, being perfectly flush with the original Main Street storefronts. The open-air front portion of the loggia contains a large fountain.
The large, curved portion towards the top of the building is actually an open-air observation deck. The outermost point of the circle has space for a few people at a time to be surrounded by glass, allowing for a spectacular view of the Ohio River and down Main Street.
The American Institute of Architects awarded the Humana Building the National Honor Award in 1987.[2] Time Magazine listed it as one of the ten best buildings of the 1980s.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ "Humana Tower". The Encyclopedia of Louisville (1). (2001).
- ^ AIA Honor Awards 1980 - 1989. Retrieved on 2007-01-15.
- ^ Howington, Patrick. "N.Y. gala honors Humana for supporting the arts", The Courier-Journal, 2006-11-09. Retrieved on 2007-01-15.
