With Johannesburg firmly establishing itself as the economic heartland of South Africa during the mid 20th century, Standard Bank decided to move its South African head office from Pretoria to Johannesburg in 1959. The head office moved into the upper floors of the Johannesburg branch building, situated on the corner of Commissioner, Harrison and Fox Streets. This building could however not accommodate all the administrative staff and at a 1962 board meeting, the idea of a prestigious new head office building was conceived. The site of the then Fox Street branch, situated on the corner of Fox and Simmonds Streets was chosen and the four adjoining sites purchased to create the site bounded by Fox, Simmonds, Main and Hollard Streets. In September 1966 the entire site could be handed over to the contractors although demolition of some of the buildings on the site already commenced earlier that year.
The construction site from above (Standard Bank Heritage Centre)
The new head office building was designed by German architect, Professor Helmut Hentrich from Dusseldorf. The 27-storey tower block, described as a “hanging building” aroused considerable comment and was a curiosity throughout its construction period. The building consisted of a central concrete core from which concrete and steel beams were extended. The floors were suspended from these beams...
