Nebraska isn’t really famous for its big cities and skyscrapers, but Kiewit Plaza is one of the tallest buildings in Omaha. It’s the home offices of Berkshire Hathaway, a Warren Buffett production. It was built by one of the biggest and most profitable construction companies in the world, Peter Kiewit Sons’, which is also where the building derives its name. Read on to find out a few more interesting things you may or may not have already known about Kiewit Plaza.
The Building’s Been Redone
Kiewit Plaza is not completely original anymore. The building’s parking garage was fully rebuilt recently to include a seven-level enclosed garage with 251 parking spaces. The new garage is much more user-friendly, ventilated and sprinkled. Three other levels of the building were also rebuilt to include state-of-the-art kitchens, gyms and dining rooms, as well as a new lobby and front entrance.
The Old Name
Before it was called Kiewit Plaza, the building was named Colossus of Roads. This company is also housed inside the building, but it was renamed to recognize the builder. Peter Kiewit Sons’ is a major construction company, and it was once considered the single most successful construction company in the world.
It’s Not that Tall
Despite being one of the tallest buildings in downtown Omaha, the Kiewit Plaza building is not that tall. It stands at approximately 210 feet tall and has 15 stories. It’s approximately 420 feet shorter than the tallest building in the city, which is One First National Center. However, it is considered a high-rise in this area of the country.
It Took A Year to Build
Despite being a rather large building, it did not take that long to construct Kiewit Plaza. Construction began in 1960 and ended a year later. This quick turnaround is only one of the reasons the building company was able to create a reputation for being one of the most successful in the world.
Kiewit Plaza is Not Kiewit’s Largest Building
Kiewit Plaza is also home to the construction company that constructed the building. The company is known for being able to build large buildings anywhere in the world, including radar stations on ice caps in Greenland and even Thule Air Force Base. While Kiewit Plaza is considered a large structure, it’s not the builders largest by far.
Photo Source: Wikimedia
