Metropolitan Edison Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1926-1927 for the Metropolitan Edison Company, this twelve-story office tower at Washington Street and Madison Avenue in Reading rises about 154 feet, with a limestone base, brick shaft and terra cotta top. Its skeletal steel frame uses about 14 pounds of steel per square foot, roughly twice common practice at the time. The interior public rooms have marble walls, bronze elevator doors and ceilings finished in 14 karat gold leaf. The building is significant because it recalls the growth of the electric industry in Reading, a city where the company began in 1883 with a dynamo and an arc-lamp demonstration. It is also regarded as the city's only example of the 'pattern' office design used by General Gas and Electric, a New York holding company, across its utilities. The tower was the city's tallest building until 1930. A 1956 five-story addition was linked to the tower so the two operate as one unit. The tower was later used by insurer American Casualty and CNA, and it was turned over for redevelopment in 1982.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is tied to the economic growth of the electric industry in Reading and eastern Pennsylvania, and that it is the only remaining structure of its kind in the city linked to that industry. It is also described as Reading's only example of the 'pattern' office building built for a New York holding company, and as one of the city's best-preserved and most finely finished commercial buildings of its period.
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 83004192, listed October 28, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 412 Washington St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | October 28, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004192 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1900-1926 |
| Architect / builder | A. Heilman & C. E. Stienmetz (architects); W. S. Barstowe Co. (builder) |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical commercial style, described as a 'pattern' office building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Later addition completed in 1956; the Met-Ed offices moved out in 1954 and the building was turned over to the City of Reading for redevelopment in 1982. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.33650, -75.92911 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 83004192.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6825080
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.