We are pretty proud of the building that houses the Gregory & Appel offices. Affectionately called Capitol View, the building has a rich history dating back to 1919 when Henry Stutz built it to house his new HCS Motor Car Co.
“Four blocks north of the Stutz Business Center on Capitol Avenue stands another of Harry Stutz’s automobile factories. Like the Business Center, the former HCS Motor Car Co. plant has found an ideal adaptive use. The 130-year-old insurance firm Gregory and Appel Inc. has rehabilitated the four-story structure and found that its history and character are a good match for the company’s own personality.
After resigning as president of Stutz Motor Car Co. in 1919, Harry Stutz formed the HCS company with his friend and business partner, Henry Campbell. They constructed a new building at 1402 N. Capitol Ave. Like the earlier Stutz Motor Car plant, the HCS factory was constructed with reinforced concrete and given an exterior veneer of buff-colored brick. The two men decided to manufacture smaller luxury cars and emphasize superior design and engineering.”
When Gregory & Appel had outgrown our previous location back in 2005, we found our new home at 1402 N. Capitol. Using the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit program to help offset some of the costs, we fixed up the delapidated building and restored it to its former glory.
“Architects CSO exposed the concrete structure, kept the open layout, and placed the work spaces of most employees along the windows outside the central core. The old freight elevators were converted to offices and some of the machinery was left in place on the ceilings. Appel says that employees love the building and the office configuration. They also like the views of Downtown from the company offices.”
Read the full article at IndyStar.com. Thanks to James Glass for the excellent write-up!