Augusta University Building Explained

The Augusta University Building, formerly known as the Wells Fargo Building and Georgia Railroad Bank Building, is a commercial and financial skyscraper in Augusta, Georgia, in the United States. After its completion, the building was the tallest building in Augusta from 1967 to 1976, when the Lamar Building surpassed it due to the completion of the penthouse. Today, it is the third tallest building in the city. The building's exterior surface is made completely in aluminum steel glass.

The Pinnacle Club, a member-based restaurant, has continuously operated on the 16th and 17th floors since the building's opening in 1967.

History

The building was planned in 1965 by Georgia Railroad Bank & Trust. When announced, the structure planned to be 14 storeys tall and cost of $5 million.^[1] Robert McCreary designed the building, which has been described as having a "Miesian" architectural style, after the prominent architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who championed glass curtain buildings.^[2] The building opened with 170,000 square feet of space.^[3] The building displaced the Town Tavern, a restaurant famous for serving golfers during the Masters Tournament, which moved and closed in 1993.^[4]

The building was purchased in 1986 by First Union Bank, which changed the building's name.^[5]

In 2003, the building's name was changed to the Wachovia Bank Center, making it the official headquarters of Wachovia in the eastern part of Georgia and the Central Savannah River Area. In 2008, the building's name was changed again to the Wells Fargo Building and was the official headquarters of Wells Fargo in the Augusta region.

Augusta University's health department bought the naming rights in 2017 after leasing two floors of the building.^[6]

Part of the film Agent Game were filmed at the building.^[7]

References

• Emporis.com. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
• Wachovia Bank Building, Augusta SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 2010-08-07.

Notes and References

1. Web site: In Augusta's Future. February 11, 1965. Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
2. Web site: Modern and Postmodern Architecture: Overview. Robert M.. Craig. October 28, 2006. The Georgia Encyclopedia. November 23, 2020.
3. Web site: Tree Removal Reveals 699 Broad Street. March 29, 2020. November 29, 2020. May 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517162058/https://metrospirit.com/tree-removal-reveals-699-broad-street/. dead.
4. Web site: Town Tavern was place to eat for Masters Tournament guests, golfers. Meg. Mirshak.
5. Web site: AU'S NAME RECOGNITION ABOUT TO GET BIGGER; AU LEASE AGREEMENT GIVES IT NAMING RIGHTS TO THE OLD WELLS FARGO BUILDING. Joe. Hotchkiss. June 17, 2017.
6. Web site: AU Health signs agreement on old Wells Fargo building; will receive naming rights. June 16, 2017. WRDW.com.
7. Web site: Mel Gibson in downtown Augusta to make spy thriller. Jozsef. Papp. 29 March 2021. Augusta Chronicle.