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Commonwealth Building (Louisville)
Encyclopedia
The Commonwealth Building was a 21-story, 255 feet (78 m) building in Downtown Louisville
, Kentucky
located on the northwestern corner of Fourth Street and Broadway.
The Commonwealth Building was built by James Graham Brown
across Fourth Street from the Brown Hotel in 1928 and originally named after his late brother, Martin Brown. In 1955, a 19 story vertical addition was constructed which took the title of Louisville's tallest building away from the catty-cornered Heyburn Building
across Fourth and Broadway. The building featured a light beacon on its roof for a short time until being turned off due to complaints by residents in Floyds Knobs, Indiana
.
The owner of the building, Commonwealth Life Insurance Company, created Capital Holding Corporation in 1969 and, as the company grew, decided to build a new headquarters building on the southwest corner of Fourth and Market named Capital Holding Center
to reflect the company's business interests outside of life insurance. Once Commonwealth Life Insurance Company and Capital Holding relocated to their new headquarters, the Commonwealth Building was imploded on January 16, 1994. A low rise office building and open space now occupy the buildings former site.
Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. Its boundaries are the Ohio River to the north, Hancock Street to the east, York and Jacob Streets to the south, and 9th Street to the west...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
located on the northwestern corner of Fourth Street and Broadway.
The Commonwealth Building was built by James Graham Brown
James Graham Brown
James Graham Brown was an American businessman and real estate developer best known as the builder of the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky and for his philanthropy. Born in Madison, Indiana, he moved to Louisville in 1903 and founded, with his brother and father, the W.P. Brown and Sons Lumber...
across Fourth Street from the Brown Hotel in 1928 and originally named after his late brother, Martin Brown. In 1955, a 19 story vertical addition was constructed which took the title of Louisville's tallest building away from the catty-cornered Heyburn Building
Heyburn Building
The Heyburn Building is a 17-floor, 250 foot building in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. In the early 20th century, it was an integral part of the "magic corner" of Fourth Street and Broadway, which rivaled Main Street as Louisville's business district...
across Fourth and Broadway. The building featured a light beacon on its roof for a short time until being turned off due to complaints by residents in Floyds Knobs, Indiana
Floyds Knobs, Indiana
Floyds Knobs is a small unincorporated town in Lafayette Township, Floyd County, Indiana. Historically a farming community on the outskirts of New Albany, it has since become a bedroom community for Louisville, Kentucky, containing subdivisions, farms, small shopping centers and churches, and...
.
The owner of the building, Commonwealth Life Insurance Company, created Capital Holding Corporation in 1969 and, as the company grew, decided to build a new headquarters building on the southwest corner of Fourth and Market named Capital Holding Center
AEGON Center
The AEGON Center is a skyscraper in Downtown, Louisville, Kentucky and located at 400 West Market Street. The 35-story, high structure was designed by architect John Burgee with Philip Johnson and was completed in 1993 at the cost of $100 million...
to reflect the company's business interests outside of life insurance. Once Commonwealth Life Insurance Company and Capital Holding relocated to their new headquarters, the Commonwealth Building was imploded on January 16, 1994. A low rise office building and open space now occupy the buildings former site.