The Ottawa Street Power Station, one of Lansing’s most distinctive landmarks, was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. The plant is currently undergoing a massive redevelopment by Lansing-based firm The Christman Company to become the new national headquarters for Accident Fund Insurance Company of America.

“It’s wonderful to see this amazing building get the recognition it deserves,” says Liz Haar, Accident Fund president and CEO. “This inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places shines a positive light on all of downtown Lansing and ensures that the rich history of the station will be preserved and honored as the building takes on a new life.”

The National Register of Historic Places (http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/) is the official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by Congress in the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources. The Ottawa Street Power Station joins the Register with such buildings as the Michigan State Capitol and Fisher Building in Detroit. Achieving this listing was a key component in preserving and reusing the building.

The Ottawa Street Power Station, located at 217 E. Ottawa St. along the Grand River, has been one of the downtown skyline’s most distinguishing features since it was built in 1939 by the Lansing Board of Water and Light. The power station was designed in the distinctive Art Deco style, and is significant for both its grandeur and its role in providing electricity and steam heat to downtown Lansing from 1939 until the late 1980s. Besides the Michigan Capitol dome itself, the power station—with its broad base, stepped arch windows and metal doors, blocky tower form and graded-hue masonry—is one of the capital city’s most visually dominating structures.

Construction on Accident Fund’s new 7-acre campus is now underway and is expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2011. In addition to National Register status, Accident Fund will also pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.G. Green Building Council. The project has been seen as the key to further riverfront and downtown redevelopment.

Headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America is one of the nation’s leading workers compensation insurers with more than $3 billion in assets. Founded in 1912, Accident Fund is rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Accident Fund Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries (Accident Fund National, Accident Fund General, United Wisconsin Insurance Company and CompWest) are licensed in 49 states plus the District of Columbia*.

*Licensing per state varies by subsidiary.

Founded in 1894, The Christman Company has grown to become one of the country’s leading construction firms, currently ranked as 164 in the “Engineering News-Record (ENR) 400” list of top contractors nationally, and in the ENR 100 list of top construction management at-risk firms. Christman is a professional construction services firm that, with its affiliate companies Christman Capital Development Company and Christman Constructors, Inc., offers construction management, general contracting, design/build, real estate development, facilities consulting services, and self-perform skilled trades. More information can be found at www.christmanco.com.
 

Have Questions? Email Corporate Communications

Back