Last updated: September 1, 2022
Place
Northern Natural Gas Building
David Calease, NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
2223 Dodge Street
Significance:
Architecture; Commerce
Designation:
National Register of Historic Places
OPEN TO PUBLIC:
No
MANAGED BY:
Private Property Owner
The Northern Natural Gas Building, constructed in 1951, was an early pioneer of Omaha’s rise in the service industry in the years after World War II and is an example of mid-century corporate architecture.
Northern Natural Gas was in operation in Omaha since the 1930s, but rapidly expanded in the 1950s. Natural gas as a fuel gained popularity in the decade and the company expanded in response to the demand by building new pipelines and acquiring new customers. The growth of the company occurred during a time of economic change in America, shifting from a production-based economy to one that was service based.
In 1951, the company consolidated its five offices in Omaha into the new headquarters building designed by Latenser & Sons. The Northern Natural Gas Headquarters Building is an example of modern architecture popular in the post-World War II period. Buildings constructed in the modern architectural style share certain characteristics: simple design, integration of design elements, rectilinear forms, use of modern materials, exposed structure, little ornamentation, functional spaces, and open plans. Architects strived to portray an image of the expansion of corporate America through designs that evoked efficiency, standardization, and ambition. The Northern Natural Gas Headquarters Building was also designed to incorporate new technologies that proliferated in the post-war period. For instance, its cellular steel floor construction enabled electrical wiring and ventilation throughout the building while its air conditioning system required sealed glazed windows.
Six years after its construction, a 15-story addition was added to the headquarters building in Omaha. Completed in 1958, the addition exemplified the rapid growth of Northern Natural Gas and confidence in the company’s future. In 2012, the building’s interior was modified to be used as apartments. The National Register nomination for this property is not yet digitized but can be requested from the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office.
Northern Natural Gas was in operation in Omaha since the 1930s, but rapidly expanded in the 1950s. Natural gas as a fuel gained popularity in the decade and the company expanded in response to the demand by building new pipelines and acquiring new customers. The growth of the company occurred during a time of economic change in America, shifting from a production-based economy to one that was service based.
In 1951, the company consolidated its five offices in Omaha into the new headquarters building designed by Latenser & Sons. The Northern Natural Gas Headquarters Building is an example of modern architecture popular in the post-World War II period. Buildings constructed in the modern architectural style share certain characteristics: simple design, integration of design elements, rectilinear forms, use of modern materials, exposed structure, little ornamentation, functional spaces, and open plans. Architects strived to portray an image of the expansion of corporate America through designs that evoked efficiency, standardization, and ambition. The Northern Natural Gas Headquarters Building was also designed to incorporate new technologies that proliferated in the post-war period. For instance, its cellular steel floor construction enabled electrical wiring and ventilation throughout the building while its air conditioning system required sealed glazed windows.
Six years after its construction, a 15-story addition was added to the headquarters building in Omaha. Completed in 1958, the addition exemplified the rapid growth of Northern Natural Gas and confidence in the company’s future. In 2012, the building’s interior was modified to be used as apartments. The National Register nomination for this property is not yet digitized but can be requested from the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office.