Ex US HQ - Abrams Building #1/2

[pjdphoto]

Great! I worked in the IG Farben building from 1974-76 The photo lab was on the 8th floor and the 2 newspapers were THE VCORPs GUARDIAN and THE FRANKFURT CHRONICLE. What a time I had! :)

[mrbw1963]

Them bombing wos in 1982! I was at Kennedy Kasern.

[mrbw1963]

Thank You , I worked there in 1981-1983.

[dddenden]

I worked here from 1971 to 1973. A Lt. Col. I worked for in the G-1 was killed in the explosion as he was at the entrance to the Officer's club. I don't remember the time of the explosions or where I was - maybe on my way to work. After the terrorist bombings security was tightened measurably. Everyone was required to have picture ID cards visible at all times. Brings back memories. Denden

[halljoe1]

@dddenden Was there from 71 to 80 with the 109th MP, the LTC was killed in 1972 I believe, pipe bomb between the big front doors of Abrams Bldg, while a tour was assembling. Second bomb was in 1973 outside the Credit Union in a trash can, I was on the third floor when it went off, was at Gibbs Kaserne during the 72 incident, made it to the Abrams Bldg pretty quick with the MP Commander

[segavao]

I worked in this Building for 4 years, 81-85. The Rotunda was a Cafeteria...Arms room in the basement...and I worked on the 6th Floor so I was very dependent on those Padanoster Elevators daily. I was assigned to HHC V Corps. Served under Lt. General Colon Powell back then....thanks for the memories...

[segavao]

I worked in this Building for 4 years, 81-85. The Rotunda was a Cafeteria...Arms room in the basement...and I worked on the 6th Floor so I was very dependent on those Padanoster Elevators daily. I was assigned to HHC V Corps. Served under Lt. General Colon Powell back then....thanks for the memories...

[MSJOSEFUL1]

I'm trying to remember this building. I think it's the building that I walked to, to visit the credit union and eat lunch. In 1976-77 I worked at the United States Regional Personnel Center (USARPC), and if I remember this building was behind the USARPC (?)

[marlis44]

I loved being stationed in Germany.  I am so happy to see the building I worked in for so long now returned to its rightful owners. Abrahms (sp) never deserved the honor or having this building named after him.

[marlis44]

I was a WAC assigned to Support District Hessen and later assigned to V Corp. I loved the IG Farben building and most of all the Paternostern Elevator. Quite a feat for a female soldier to catch the lift in Class A's and High Heels.

I lived in a flat on Gottfried Keller Str. off of Eschenheimer-Landstrasse. Not too far from the PX complex. Used the Strassenbahn daily to the IG Farben building.

So many great memories. Met my late husband there and life was good in Frankfurt am Mein.

[mrmjpeg]

What a trip down memory lane! Thank you so much! I was there in the late 80's and in the barracks across the street (Kennedy Kasern). I loved the elevators.  I hit Google Earth and saw the barracks and see that there's LOTS of construction where the old PX & Burger King used to be.

[sarrycrey]

I love this video, I remember the first time I watched it I was so sick, too sick to even comment I think...it is so interesting hearing the german in the background and then you speaking english... :)

[hiwiller]

Thank you for posting this. I was reminiscing about a couple of opportunities I had to work with the V Corps and stayed at the complex. This building certainly left an impression with me.  I appreciate the opportunity to see it again in its current function.

[TheB1ffman]

Thanks so much for the trip back through history. I was stationed in the Army there across the street (228th Signal Corp) and lived at the Kennedy Kaserne. Visited this magnificent facility many times. I still tell stories about riding the lifts and eating at the Rotunda.

[Chip12414]

What great views of this magnificent structure of the Bauhaus/Expressionalist school of architecture. The materials and construction methods were actually inspired by the General Motors Bldg in Detroit (Google "General Motors Building/Durant" and you will see). The Directors of the IG Farben conglomerate wanted an impressive structure, but wanted contruction time and expense to be minimal. Architect Hans Poelzig (whose name the Building carries now - "Poelzig-Bau") succeeded entirely.

[livelifealwaystoo]

I said "lovely building" before I saw the outside. The outside is not lovely, it's massive and meant to be imposing. The inside is lovely.

[livelifealwaystoo]

What kind of stone work is that on the outside?

[Chip12414]

The stone work is travertine, a sedimentary rock similiar to limestone. The travertine used in the Farben Building (the Poelzig-Bau) was mined I believe in Southern Germany. It is merely a veneer - not blocks of stone. About 10 years ago the NY Times mentioned the building in an article. It was apparent that the author had only seen photos and not the actual structure, as he referred to the building as being "gray and bland". In actual fact, the marbled beige/cream color is very appealing.

[jrsnyderjr]

interesting...certainly not a small complex.