Masonry Magazine September 1963 Page. 14
Colonial Modern
"The Aetna Blend"
Structure: Home Office, Aetna Life Affiliated Companies, Hartford, Conn.
Masonry: Main Structure by George A. Fuller Company. Additions by Sibbald Mason Contracting, Inc.
Face Brick: Harvard Waterstruck Brick, by Edward W. Mack & Son.
Architects: Main Structure by James Gamble Rogers. East Wing by Frid, Prentice & Ferguson and Douglas W. Orr. Other additions by Frid, Prentice & Ferguson.
General Contractor: George A. Fuller Company.
Home Office of the Aetna Life Affiliated Companies at Hartford, Connecticut, the largest Colonial style building in the world. Completed in 1930, the building serves as the home office for the Aetna Life Insurance Co., which observed its 100th anniversary in 1953, the Aetna Casualty and Surety Co., and the Standard Fire Insurance Co.
The massive brick Home Office of the Aetna Life Affiliated Companies in Hartford, Conn. is the nation's largest building of Colonial design. Formally opened on January 1, 1931, the building is one of Hartford's better-known landmarks and has been widely hailed as an architectural masterpiece.
The main structure, designed by the late James Gamble Rogers, consists of seven stories above ground throughout its length, rising three stories higher in the center. A West Wing was added in 1958 and the East Annex, containing office space, training facilities and a new kitchen and dining rooms, was opened in 1962. In addition, several separate buildings erected on the park-like grounds include garages, a greenhouse and housing for a main refrigeration plant, heart of the Giant Home Office air conditioning system. A new nine-level East Wing, last and largest step in the companies' $15 million building expansion program is now under construction and scheduled for completion in the fall of 1964.
All the additions were designed by Frid, Prentice & Ferguson of Hartford, with architect Douglas W. Orr of New Haven cooperating on the East Wing. All conform to the original Georgian Colonial concept, and all use the same specially selected "Aetna Blend" of handsome, wood-fired face brick employed in 1931. This blend ranges from the lightest shades of red to the darkest green, almost black headers of Harvard Waterstruck Brick. It is produced by Edward W. Mack & Son of Windsor, Conn.
The Aetna Life companies, one of the country's large insurance organizations, now have over 5,000 people working. (Continued on page 21)
Aerial view of the Home Office of the Aetna Life Affiliated Companies, showing the original 1930 structure at center, 1958 West Wing, upper right, 1962 East Annex, lower left, and newly completed steelwork for East Wing, center left. Office building is topped by one of Hartford's most familiar landmarks, the Aetna Life tower. The Aetna Life companies comprise one of the largest multiple-line insurance organziations and write practically every form of insurance and bonding pretcetion.