USMC World Headquarters, c. 1902
This plaque is in front of the Cummings Center in Beverly, MA. The massive complex was known as “The Shoe” for many, many years. Rough GPS location is 42.556744, -70.888308.
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Once the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world, this mammoth building is still widely hailed for both its size and innovative architecture. Pioneer builder E.L. Ransome utilized twisted iron rods in his patented “armored concrete” system. This is one of the earliest examples of what is now know as reinforced concrete construction. The oversized window-walls were a revolutionary design achievement, providing abundant daylight and ventilation. Architectural historian Reyner Banham described “The Shoe” as a “monument to the rise of modern industrial architecture in the United States.”