Hancock Whitney Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hancock Whitney Center New Orleans |
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| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Architectural style | international style |
| Location | 701 Poydras Street New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Coordinates | 29°57′01″N 90°04′16″W / 29.9502°N 90.0711°W |
| Completed | 1972 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 697 ft (212 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 51 |
| Floor area | Office: 1,256,988 sq ft (116,778.0 m2) Retail: 32,700 sq ft (3,040 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Skidmore, Owings and Merrill |
| Developer | Hines Interests Limited Partnership |
| Structural engineer | Fazlur Rahman Khan |
The Hancock Whitney Center is a very tall building in New Orleans, Louisiana. It has 51 floors and stands about 697 feet (212 meters) high. This amazing skyscraper was designed in the International style by a company called Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
You can find it at 701 Poydras Street in the Central Business District of New Orleans. It is the tallest building in both New Orleans and the entire Louisiana state. It is even taller than Louisiana's highest natural point, Driskill Mountain. The building is mainly used for offices, but it also has some shops on the ground floor.
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Building Design and Construction
The Hancock Whitney Center was built using a special method. It has a strong steel core inside and a concrete outer layer. This design helps it stand strong. The outside of the building is covered with beautiful Italian travertine, which is a type of limestone, and bronze-colored glass.
The building opened in 1972. People sometimes worried if the limestone would be strong enough during big storms. However, when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the building held up very well. It only had minor damage, like some broken windows and water getting inside. The building was able to open again for people to use in December 2005.
A Tall Building in the South
When it was finished in 1972, the Hancock Whitney Center was the tallest building in the Southeast. It was taller than the Wachovia Bank of Georgia Building in Atlanta. It kept this title until 1976. That's when the Westin Peachtree Plaza, also in Atlanta, became taller.
The Hancock Whitney Center was the first skyscraper in the Southern United States to be taller than 200 meters (about 656 feet). This was a big achievement for building design in the South.
Heliport on the Roof
There is a special landing area for helicopters on the roof of the tower. It is called the Hancock Whitney Center Emergency Heliport. This heliport can be used for emergencies.
Where is the Building Located?
The Hancock Whitney Center is surrounded by several streets. Poydras Street is to its south, and Carondelet Street is to its west. Perdido Street is to the north, and St. Charles Avenue is to the east.
This building is so big that it even has its own ZIP code, which is 70139. The area around it uses the ZIP code 70130.
Name Change and Branding
For many years, this building was known as One Shell Square. This was because the Shell Oil Company was its biggest tenant, meaning they rented the most space.
In August 2017, a bank called Hancock-Whitney Bank announced that they would move their offices into the building in 2018. Even though Shell Oil Company still rents a lot of space, the building's name was changed. It is now called the "Hancock Whitney Center." The building was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Hancock Whitney Center para niños
