Central Assurance Company
Also known as: AFSCME--Ohio Council 8
Why it's listed
Built in 1942 by the Central Assurance Company, this two-story office building at 741 East Broad Street in Columbus shows Art Deco design at a small scale. Its cut stone facade has large fluted pylons at each end, stepped setbacks, and a projecting three-bay central entrance. Two engaged Tuscan Doric columns flank the doorway beneath a heavy flat cornice. Stylized floral panels are carved into the end projections and recessed spandrels, and a low parapet of triangles gives the roofline a wave-like look. The building was recognized as a notably refined example of the style, even though it came late in the Art Deco period. Few commercial buildings of this type remain in Columbus, and it is the only one on East Broad Street. It also marks the last phase of the street's development, when commercial uses spread east from downtown into a formerly residential area. Its low scale and detailed facade fit the surrounding neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be exceptionally significant under Criterion C as a well-developed example of Art Deco design on a small commercial building. It is one of few remaining Art Deco commercial buildings in Columbus and the only one on East Broad Street. It also represents the eastward spread of commercial development along East Broad Street.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86003421, listed December 19, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 741 E. Broad St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | December 19, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003421 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in very good exterior condition and in use as offices; Permastone planters have been added to the north facade. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Columbus Near East Side District |
| Coordinates | 39.96424, -82.98095 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86003421.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104881516
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.