Arkansas Power and Light Building
| Company type | Office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Utilities |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Little Rock , United States |
| Products | Utility services |
| Parent | Entergy Arkansas (successor) |
The Arkansas Power and Light Building, presently referred to as the Entergy Building, stands in the heart of downtown Little Rock, Arkansas and is officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Conceived in 1953 by Fred Arnold from the architectural firm Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson, it represents Little Rock’s inaugural office structure designed in the International Style. Its completion was postponed until 1959 due to disagreements over utility rate hikes and challenges related to labor agreements.
Distinguished by its contemporary architectural elements, the structure incorporates marble panels alongside a glass curtain wall positioned above a one-story curved brick base. This project was among the initial initiatives following Little Rock's "Little Rock 1969" urban development plan, which aimed to influence commercial architectural trends and foster collaboration between public entities and private investors for downtown renewal.
Situated at 900 S. Louisiana St., the building functions as the main office for Entergy Arkansas, which succeeded Arkansas Power and Light Co., thereby continuing its legacy in utility service provision.
Restoration
By 2010, the original Georgia Pearl Gray marble cladding had suffered deterioration caused by environmental exposure and structural deformation. These panels were substituted with thinner, 1/4-inch Georgia Pearl Gray marble affixed to aluminum honeycomb backing sourced from the same quarry as the original material. This approach decreased the weight while maintaining historical authenticity. The rehabilitation adhered to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s standards for historic preservation and received accolades from the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas.
See also
Further reading
- Arkansas Power and Light Building; 2011; Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
- Arkansas Power and Light Company Customer Service Brochure; 1959; corporate files of AP&L.
- The Exciter; various issues from 1953 to 1959.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Office buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Arkansas
- Commercial buildings completed in 1959
- International style architecture in Arkansas
- National Register of Historic Places in Little Rock, Arkansas
- Entergy
- 1959 establishments in Arkansas
- Commercial buildings in Little Rock, Arkansas