The Corporate Center

infobox building
building_name = The Corporate Center
native_building_name=

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caption =
former_names = Union Carbide Corporate Centercite journal|last=Dzikowski|first=Don|date=1997-01-20|title=Prestone Expands Headquarters|journal=Fairfield County Business Journal|publisher=EBSCO|volume=36|issue=3|pages=1-5|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/content/article/1030266674.html|accessdate=2008-08-03]
map_type =
building_type = Corporate Offices
architectural_style =
structural_system =
structural_system =
cost =
location = Danbury, CT
address =
client =
owner = Grubb & Ellis
current_tenants =
landlord =
coordinates = coord|41.38196|N|73.53020|W|type:landmark_region:US-CT|display=it
start_date = 1980
completion_date = 1982
inauguration_date =
demolition_date =
destruction_date =
height =
diameter =
other_dimensions =
floor_count =
floor_area = convert|2100000|sqft|m2cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E1DD113FF933A25755C0A9679C8B63|title= Commercial Property/Connecticut; For Old Union Carbide Headquarters, a Time of Flux|last=Charles|first=Eleanor|date=2001-06-10|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-08-03]
main_contractor =
architect = Kevin Roche [cite book |title=Twentieth-century American architecture: the building and their makers |last=Wiseman |first=Carter |year=2000 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |location=New York, NY |isbn=0393320545 |pages=324 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=J_GGEgmgwycC&pg=RA3-PA324&lpg=RA3-PA324&dq=union+carbide+Roche&source=web&ots=_kS82vJOSe&sig=fNQNm1PbFDX_8EVR6IDdNRsEJa0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result ]
structural_engineer =
services_engineer =
civil_engineer =
other_designers = Emanuel Pisetznercite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E7DB1139F937A15752C1A963958260|title= Emanuel Pisetzner, 69, Engineer Relied On by Leading Architects|last=Saxon|first=Wolfgang|date=1995-11-24|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-08-03]
quantity_surveyor =
awards =
references =

The Corporate Center, formerly known as the Union Carbide Corporate Center, is an architecturally unique building in Danbury, Connecticut. Constructed in 1982 as the headquarters of the Union Carbide chemical company, it is known for its unusual style and floorplan layout.

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History

In 1976, Union Carbide announced that it intended to relocate from New York City to a location in Connecticut.cite news|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F6091FF83F5F167493C2AB1788D85F428785F9|title=Union Carbide, 3,500 on Staff, to Quit City|last=Sterne|first=Mickael|date=1976-03-20|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-08-03] After beginning construction in 1980,cite web|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70D12FD3F5F12728DDDAE0A94DA405B8084F1D3 |title=Booming Danbury to Add Union Carbide to Tax Rolls; A Growing Danbury to Be Home of Union Carbide Sole Hat Company Prospers Danbury AT A GLANCE Geography Population Employment Fire and Police Income Housing Taxes Government Schools|last=Madden|first=Richard L.|date=1980-02-27|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-08-03] Union Carbide moved its approximatively 3,000 staff members to the facility in 1983.

Following several corporate realignments,cite web|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58573658.html?dids=58573658:58573658&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+08%2C+1986&author=MICHAEL+A.+HILTZIK&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Union+Carbide+Plans+to+Sell+Off+%241+Billion+More+of+Assets&pqatl=google |title=Union Carbide Plans to Sell Off $1 Billion More of Assets|last=Hiltzik|first=Michael A.|date=1986-04-08|publisher=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=2008-08-03] space was rented out to several different companies after a 1986 leaseback arrangement transferred ownership to a Florida concern. This resulted in the facility being renamed the Corporate Center in 1992. [cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/02Rlandmark.html?pagewanted=1&n=Top/News/U.S./U.S.%20States,%20Territories%20and%20Possessions/New%20Jersey |title=The Office as Architectural Touchstone|last=Dunlap |first=David L.|date=2008-03-02|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-08-31] Following the purchase of Union Carbide by The Dow Chemical Company in 2001, the Union Carbide staff was further reduced and more space sublet to other companies. In 2007 the building was sold to Grubb & Ellis for $80 million dollars,cite journal|last=Chuvala|first=Bob|date=2007-07-02|title=Shine and flip awaits Union Carbide HQ |journal=Fairfield County Business Journal|publisher=Fairfield County Business |volume=46|issue=27|url=http://www.fairfieldcountybusiness.com/archive/070207/0702070009.php4|accessdate=2008-08-03] less than half its original construction cost of $190 million.

Architecture

The layout of the building is unique in that the entire building rests on 5,000 pillars driven into the ground at heights of convert|5|to|40|ft|m, to avoid having to clear the land of obstacles. Additionally, the outer walls of the building face into the forest while the interior walls face a completely enclosed 2,500-space parking garage. The building was designed with several pods for the then divisions of Union Carbide that would occupy the facility. Further, it was set up so that each office was very close, sometimes only 10 feet (3 m), from its related parking spot and that employees would not need to exit the building to perform any functions.

In the center of the complex are several conference rooms, libraries, a cafeteria, and other support services. Each room in the 2.1 million-square-foot (195,000 m²) complex, 1.3 million (117,000 m²) of which is office space,cite web|url=http://www.bhopal.net/dowunioncarbide/archives/2006/07/corporate_cente.html|title=Corporate Center owners study options, including selling the Danbury property|last=Chuvala|first=Bob|date=2006-07-02|publisher=Union Carbide|accessdate=2008-08-03] has separate temperature controls and natural light through a series of translucent windows. The building sits on a convert|646|acre|ha|adj=on campus which has been subdivided over the years and now also hosts jogging trails and condominiums.

References

External links

* [http://www.grubbellis.com/services/iig/PDF/Grubb_Print.pdf Grubb & Ellis report]