Project Overview
The Lincoln Financial Building stands as the tallest structure in Greensboro, N.C., with a total area of 384,993 square feet. The project involved renovating the historic Jefferson Standard Building, a Beaux-Arts and Romanesque-style skyscraper constructed in 1923, and designing an adjacent complementary structure. Such an approach was rare for buildings constructed at the end of the 20th century.
The Jefferson Standard Building, one of Greensboro’s most prominent commercial landmarks, is also among the few pre-Depression-era skyscrapers in North Carolina. Designed with a U-shaped plan, it features a light well above the main entrance along Elm Street, creating the appearance of twin towers. The building's base is clad in Mount Airy granite ashlar veneer, with the second story forming a decorative band that serves as a transition to the tower.
When planning the new building, the design team closely studied the original 1923 drawings to ensure the new tower maintained the elegance of the older structure, which had long dominated the Greensboro skyline. However, replicating the historic terra cotta cladding with traditional methods would have been impractical. A precast concrete producer in Alabama was selected to create a precast concrete façade that could mimic the intricate detailing of the original materials.
Physically connected to the original Jefferson Standard Building on 14 levels, the 20-story Lincoln Financial Building features a façade primarily composed of precast concrete. The complex detailing of the precast elements successfully emulates the hand-carved terra cotta façade of the original building. This approach enabled the new tower to harmonize with its predecessor while enhancing the Greensboro skyline.
The primary design challenge was constructing a headquarters tower that complemented the adjacent 1924 tower, which was clad in weathered terra cotta featuring 40 to 50 unique shapes and intricate decorative elements. The goal was to avoid exact duplication while preserving the historic architectural style and character of the original structure.
To manage costs, the precast concrete panels featured a simplified version of the traditional details, with an emphasis on efficiency in fabrication. The project included over 1,550 pieces covering 108,000 square feet, utilizing approximately 160 different panel shapes, with individual panels ranging in weight from 308 pounds to nine tons. The use of precast concrete enabled construction to be completed in just five months.
By employing repetitive details and simplified panel designs, the project minimized forming requirements while maintaining the depth, detail, and richness of the original structure. Despite their large size, the precast concrete panels were designed to preserve the architectural scale and intricacy found on the original building.
The headquarters was completed in July 1990, meeting both budget and schedule constraints. The project was honored with a 1991 PCI Design Award. This building is a testament to the timeless appearance of the precast concrete exterior and a reminder of the elegance and craftsmanship achievable when using precast concrete to integrate new buildings into historic contexts.
In 2006, Jefferson-Pilot merged with Lincoln Financial Group, and the two buildings continue to serve as the headquarters for the company’s life insurance operations. The structures are physically connected, allowing seamless movement between them for employees. |