New Hayden Building
Also known as: Hayden Building; Guarantee Title & Trust Company Building
Why it's listed
Rising 13 stories on the north side of Capitol Square in downtown Columbus, this office building was completed in 1901 for the estate of industrialist Peter Hayden. Chicago architects George Nimmons and William Fellows designed it, and engineer Edward Shankland, who had worked with Daniel Burnham, handled the steel frame. Its brick piers and large windows follow the Commercial Style, while terra cotta ornament with interlacing patterns and a letter H crowns the upper floors, topped by four eagles. Around 1921 a three-story limestone front gave the base a classical look. At completion it was the tallest building in the city. An original iron and marble staircase survives from basement to penthouse. The building also served as the first official office of the National Football League, located on the 11th floor from at least 1927 until 1939 under president Joseph Carr. It has been vacant since the late 1990s.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be a local example of early 1900s Commercial Style high-rise steel-frame architecture, designed by Chicago architects Nimmons and Fellows with engineer Edward C. Shankland, who had worked with Daniel Burnham. It was also the first official office of the National Football League, which was based in Columbus from 1921 to 1939, with offices on the 11th floor from at least 1927.
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 09000413, listed June 11, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 16 E. Broad St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | June 11, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000413 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Nimmons, George C., and Fellows, William K., architects; Shankland, Edward C., engineer |
| Architectural style | Early 20th Century: Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacated in the late 1990s; the interior is described as remaining in good condition despite recent vacancy. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.96246, -83.00023 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 09000413.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4552053
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.