Throwback Thursday – Allied Van Lines

For this week's Epstein Throwback Thursday we take a trip back to April, 1969 for the opening of the 6-story addition to Allied Van Lines corporate headquarters in Broadview, Illinois. Located at the corner of Roosevelt Road and 25th Avenue, this 45,000 square foot building featured prominent reinforced concrete structural frame with a dark bronze aluminum curtain wall with grey heat absorbing glass which can be seen through the exposed concrete frames. Additionally, this building was set back from the property line specifically to allow for a landscaped plaza.

Another major feature of the Allied building was an electronic data processing center which was used to manage and process assignments and accounts for Allied's numerous long distance moving accounts. This particular data center was located on the ground floor enclosed within a modernist glass box which was visible from the entrance lobby as well as the street.

Alas, this piece of late 60s architecture is no longer standing. Allied moved their corporate headquarters to Oak Brook Terrace in the 90s and this building was demolished in the early 2000s, making way for the new 90,000 square foot home for the Broadway Missionary Baptist Church.