Law and Finance Building
| Company type | Commercial office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio , United States |
| Products | Office spaces, steakhouse (in former banking lobby) |
The Law and Finance Building stands as a notable historic office tower located in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. Completed in 1927, it was originally developed for the Ohio State Savings Association, a regional banking institution. The building, designed in the Art Moderne architectural style by the firm Simons, Brittain & English, briefly hosted the architects' own offices and functioned as the main headquarters for the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma from 1929 until 1952. Presently, it provides commercial office spaces and includes a steakhouse operating within the former banking lobby.
Attributes and history
Constructed around 1926 at the behest of the Ohio State Savings Association, this edifice was erected during a time when Gay Street was solidifying its role as a financial district.
The structure, designed by Simons, Brittain & English—the same year they completed the LeVeque Tower—exemplifies the Art Moderne style. Its steel-frame construction features Litholite, a form of cast stone, on the lower three floors, with brick cladding above and a decorative multicolored terracotta parapet crowning the top. The two-story penthouses mirror this ornamental detailing. The primary entrance is distinguished by pale pink marble paired with polished brass accents and includes an elevator lobby alongside an ornate staircase. The building gained recognition for its pioneering application of Litholite and was reputed to contain Columbus’s heaviest bank vault door.
Between 1928 and 1929, the architects maintained their Columbus office within this building. It remains one of only two extant bank and office towers designed by Simons, Brittain & English, and uniquely represents their work in the Art Moderne/Deco idiom—the other example is situated in Alliance, Ohio.
From 1929 through 1952, it functioned as the official headquarters for Kappa Kappa Gamma, marking the sorority’s inaugural formal office before they moved to a historic property on Town Street.
Since 1998, the original banking lobby has been repurposed as a steakhouse under the ownership of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, preserving its lofty ceilings and decorative plasterwork while incorporating modern design features.