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Coordinates: 42°26′56″N 73°15′18″W / 42.44889°N 73.25500°W / 42.44889; -73.25500
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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
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{{Infobox_nrhp | name =Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building
{{Infobox NRHP
⚫
| nrhp_type =
| name = Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building
| image =
⚫
| nrhp_type =
| caption =
| nrhp_type2 = cp
⚫
| location= [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts]]
| nocat = yes
| lat_degrees = 42
| partof = [[Park Square Historic District (Pittsfield, Massachusetts)|Park Square Historic District]]
| lat_minutes = 26
| partof_refnum = 75001911
| lat_seconds = 56
| image = Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building, Pittsfield MA.jpg
| lat_direction = N
| caption =
| long_degrees = 73
⚫
| location = [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts]]
| long_minutes = 15
| coordinates = {{coord|42|26|56|N|73|15|18|W|display=inline,title}}
| long_seconds = 18
⚫
| locmapin = Massachusetts#USA
| long_direction = W
| area =
⚫
| locmapin = Massachusetts
⚫
| built = 1868
| area =
| architect = Louis Weissbein
⚫
| built =1868
⚫
| architecture = Renaissance
| architect= Weisbein,Louis
⚫
| added = February 27, 1986
⚫
| architecture= Renaissance
| designated_nrhp_type2 = December 23, 1991
⚫
| added = [[February 27]], [[1986]]
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| refnum = 86000276
| governing_body = Private
<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>
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| refnum=86000276
<ref name="nris">{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building''' is a historic commercial building at 5-7 North Street in [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts]]. It is located in the heart of downtown Pittsfield, facing Park Square across North Street. Built in 1868, it is one of a trio of [[Second Empire architecture|Second Empire]] buildings designed by Louis Weisbsein, a [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] architect, whose style influenced later construction in the city. The building was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1986,<ref name=nris/> and was included in an expansion of Pittsfield's [[Park Square Historic District (Pittsfield, Massachusetts)|Park Square Historic District]] in 1991.<ref name=ParkSquareNRHP>{{cite web|url=http://mhc-macris.net/Details.aspx?MhcId=PIT.K|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513231951/https://mhc-macris.net/Details.aspx?MhcId=PIT.K|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 13, 2021|title=NRHP boundary increase nomination for Park Square Historic District|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|accessdate=2013-11-27}}</ref>
'''Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building''' is a historic building at 5-7 North Street in [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts]].

==Description and history==
The Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building stands at the northwest corner of Park Square, in the heart of downtown Pittsfield, at the corner of North and West Streets. It is a five-story masonry structure, built out of [[Nova Scotia]] freestone. Its main facade faces east, and is seven bays wide, with the main building entrance at the center bay, sheltered by a portico supported by clustered columns and topped by a low balustrade. The other first-floor bays have round-arch openings, the rightmost one housing a store entrance. Windows are set by floor in rectangular, segmented-arch, and round-arch windows, with a variety of topping elements. There is a modillioned cornice above the third floor (the building's original roofline), and another at the top.<ref name=MACRIS/>

The building was built in 1868 to house the headquarters of the Berkshire Life Insurance Company. It was designed by Boston architect [[Louis Weissbein]], who also designed the nearby County Courthouse and House of Correction. All three buildings originally featured [[mansard roof]]s, and were influential on subsequent architecture in downtown Pittsfield.
The building was extended westward in 1906, in work designed by Pittsfield architect [[Henry Seaver]]. In 1911 the mansard roof was removed and replaced by two additional stories, to plans by [[Joseph McArthur Vance]]. The building's interior was extensively damaged by fire in 1970.<ref name=MACRIS>{{cite web|url=http://mhc-macris.net/Details.aspx?MhcId=PIT.102|title=MACRIS inventory record for Berkshire Life Building|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|accessdate=2013-11-28}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Berkshire County, Massachusetts]]


It was built in 1868 and added to the National Historic Register in 1986.
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


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{{commons category|Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building}}
{{Registered Historic Places}}


[[Category:Registered Historic Places in Massachusetts]]
{{National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts}}


[[Category:Office buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts]]
{{BerkshireMA-NRHP-stub}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Pittsfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Berkshire County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Historic district contributing properties in Massachusetts]]

Latest revision as of 18:34, 5 August 2023

Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building
Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building is located in Massachusetts
Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building
Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building is located in the United States
Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building
LocationPittsfield, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°26′56″N 73°15′18″W / 42.44889°N 73.25500°W / 42.44889; -73.25500
Built1868
ArchitectLouis Weissbein
Architectural styleRenaissance
Part ofPark Square Historic District (ID75001911)
NRHP reference No.86000276 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 27, 1986
Designated CPDecember 23, 1991

Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building is a historic commercial building at 5-7 North Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is located in the heart of downtown Pittsfield, facing Park Square across North Street. Built in 1868, it is one of a trio of Second Empire buildings designed by Louis Weisbsein, a Boston architect, whose style influenced later construction in the city. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986,[1] and was included in an expansion of Pittsfield's Park Square Historic District in 1991.[2]

Description and history[edit]

The Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building stands at the northwest corner of Park Square, in the heart of downtown Pittsfield, at the corner of North and West Streets. It is a five-story masonry structure, built out of Nova Scotia freestone. Its main facade faces east, and is seven bays wide, with the main building entrance at the center bay, sheltered by a portico supported by clustered columns and topped by a low balustrade. The other first-floor bays have round-arch openings, the rightmost one housing a store entrance. Windows are set by floor in rectangular, segmented-arch, and round-arch windows, with a variety of topping elements. There is a modillioned cornice above the third floor (the building's original roofline), and another at the top.[3]

The building was built in 1868 to house the headquarters of the Berkshire Life Insurance Company. It was designed by Boston architect Louis Weissbein, who also designed the nearby County Courthouse and House of Correction. All three buildings originally featured mansard roofs, and were influential on subsequent architecture in downtown Pittsfield.

The building was extended westward in 1906, in work designed by Pittsfield architect Henry Seaver. In 1911 the mansard roof was removed and replaced by two additional stories, to plans by Joseph McArthur Vance. The building's interior was extensively damaged by fire in 1970.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ "NRHP boundary increase nomination for Park Square Historic District". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "MACRIS inventory record for Berkshire Life Building". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
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