PPL Building

The PPL Building, formerly the Pennsylvania Power and Light Building, is a 24-story, 98 m (322 ft) office building in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It is the tallest building in the city, and the tallest in the Lehigh Valley after Bethlehem's Martin Tower was demolished on May 19, 2019. The building serves as the headquarters for PPL Corporation, the main electric utility for the Lehigh Valley.

PPL Building
Alternative namesPennsylvania Power and Light Building
General information
StatusComplete
TypeCommercial offices
Architectural styleArt Deco / Art Moderne
Location2 North 9th Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40.6014°N 75.4758°W / 40.6014; -75.4758
Construction started1926
Completed1928
Height
Roof98.02 m (321.6 ft)
Technical details
Floor count24
Floor area19,094 m2 (205,530 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators6
Design and construction
ArchitectHelmle, Corbett & Harrison
References
[1][2][3]

The PPL Building is often uniquely illuminated at night, especially during the Christmas season, with a candle on one face of the building, and a Christmas tree on the other.[4] During the 1960s, PPL supported the local United Fund community fund drive program by using the building's brightly lit windows at night to spell out the abbreviation "U.F." to remind area residents to contribute to the fund drive.

History

The PPL Building was built from 1926 to 1928. It was built by Pennsylvania Power & Light, forerunner of PPL, and to this day has been the headquarters of the company. The building was designed by architect and skyscraper pioneer Harvey Wiley Corbett, who would later have a hand in designing New York's Rockefeller Center among other buildings. The building exterior features bas reliefs by Alexander Archipenko.[2] In 1930, the PPL Building was named the "best example of a modern office building" by Encyclopædia Britannica, and also featured the world's fastest elevator.

Exterior shots of the building were used in the motion picture Executive Suite.

References
  1. "PPL Building". CTBUH Skyscraper Center.
  2. PPL Building at Emporis
  3. "PPL Building". SkyscraperPage.
  4. "Christmas lights on PPL building date to the 1950s". The Morning Call. 13 December 2004. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
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