Preston Centre
| Company type | Office building (converted to residential condominiums) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio , United States |
| Products | Office space (until 2024), Residential apartments (from 2024) |
| Owner | The Edwards Companies (since 2024) |
The Preston Centre is a 27-story office tower positioned on Capitol Square within Downtown Columbus, Ohio. It holds the distinction of being the 15th tallest structure in Columbus. Bearing the name of Preston Wolfe, a former staff member, this skyscraper is located diagonally next to the Borden Building.
Completed in 1977, the building was crafted by the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in a Modernist architectural style. Ownership remained with PNC up until 2024, after which the Preston Centre underwent a transformation into residential condominiums.
Attributes
Situated on East Broad Street near Capitol Square in Downtown Columbus, the Preston Centre is recognized as Columbus’s fifteenth-tallest edifice, standing at . It is also among the city's tallest residential buildings and faces eastward toward the Ohio Statehouse, the state capitol.
PNC maintained ownership until February 2024 when The Edwards Companies purchased the property. Subsequent renovations led to its conversion into 105 upscale apartments, marking a notable transition from its original commercial purpose to residential use.
Plaza
As of 2024, a modest plaza adjacent to the building remains preserved, contributing to the site's urban environment and aesthetic appeal.
Exterior
The Preston Centre’s design by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill exhibits Modernist principles with Brutalist influences, characterized by robust rectilinear masonry. The stepped structure features continuous vertical façades on its east and west sides, punctuated by regularly spaced windows separated by thick concrete elements.
Its structural system incorporates a "chunked" configuration akin to that of the Willis Tower, employing the tube system to enhance both stability and structural efficiency.
See also
- Architecture of Columbus, Ohio
- Willis Tower, a skyscraper with a comparable structural design
- List of tallest buildings in Columbus, Ohio
External links
- Bank buildings in Columbus, Ohio
- Broad Street (Columbus, Ohio)
- Brutalist architecture in Ohio
- Buildings and structures completed in 1977
- Buildings and structures in Downtown Columbus, Ohio
- Modernist architecture in Ohio
- Office buildings completed in 1977
- Skidmore, Owings and Merrill buildings
- Skyscraper office buildings in Columbus, Ohio