United Pacific Insurance Co.'s Open House, January 4, 1955, in their new office building. The new building was designed by John Graham Co., Architects, to complement the Medical Arts building. The new building would take almost 2 years to complete and cost close to 1/2 million dollars. The five story building would be used primarily by United Pacific for their home office. The company had 15 branch offices throughout the county, plus a number of claim service offices. It operated in 32 states, plus Alaska and the District of Columbia. The main business of the company was contract bonding, but it also offered auto, fire, marine and hazard insurance on a wholesale basis. In this picture, a group of people study the guest register. (TNT 1/5/1955, pg. 18)

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma);

Progress photograph of the new United Pacific Insurance Co. home office next to the Medical Arts Building, taken on October 4, 1953, ordered by James J. Barnes Construction Co. Steven Motor Co. can be seen across the street at 738 Broadway. The five story addition would complement the Medical Arts Building, also owned by United Pacific. The five story building would take almost 2 years to build and cost an estimated $500,000. It was built of reinforced concrete faced with glass.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Progress photograph of the United Pacific Insurance Co. building, ordered by James J. Barnes Construction. The clock tower of the Old City Hall can be seen in the background of this February 3, 1954 photograph. James J. Barnes was the general contractor for the planned five story home office for United Pacific. The building would be built of reinforced concrete faced with glass and designed to complement the Art Deco Medical Arts building, also owned by United Pacific. The finished product would cost over $500,000 and open for occupancy January of 1955.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Future home office of the United Pacific Insurance Company. Plywood fencing proudly proclaims the presence of the company and surrounds the construction site. Central School building can be seen in the right background of the picture taken on February 15, 1954. The structure would provide three floors of offices for the only Tacoma based insurance company and two floors of rental space. United Pacific also owned the Medical Arts building next door.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Future home office of the United Pacific Insurance Company. Plywood fencing surrounds the construction site in this February 15, 1954 photograph. Steven Motor Company and the Old City Hall can be seen in the background. Steel framework has been erected for what would become the five story office building of United Pacific. The building was designed with a foundation capable of supporting 10 stories if needed for future expansion. The concrete, steel and glass structure would be completed in January of 1955.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Construction worker in hard hat has one foot on the concrete forms while balancing the other on a plywood deck in an April, 1954, photograph. The forms are placed over plywood in the construction of the new United Pacific Insurance Company office building on Saint Helens Avenue. The building would take nearly two years to complete and cost an estimated $500,000. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building materials; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

Construction of the new United Pacific Insurance Company office building on Saint Helens took nearly two years and cost an estimated $500,000. The insurance company already owned the Medical Arts building next door; this five story addition would include several floors for United Pacific and a couple for rent to other companies. John Graham Company of Seattle was the architect; James J. Barnes Construction Company, also of Seattle, the general contractors. View of partially completed building taken on April 15, 1954; apparently workers have already reached and are busy on the fourth floor. Photograph ordered by James J. Barnes Construction.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs;

Construction continues on the new United Pacific Insurance Company's office building, an addition to the Medical Arts building. Building costs would total a half-million dollars and add 30,000 square feet of office space. Work would continue throughout 1954 and the building would open in January, 1955. View of partially completed building with concrete forms being hoisted and large sign informing passersby that this would be the future home office of the United Pacific Insurance Company. Photograph was taken on April 15, 1954.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs; Signs (Notices);

Plywood barricade and superintendent's office at construction site for new United Pacific Insurance Co. addition, between Trovani's Junior Bootery and the Medical Arts Building (also owned by United Pacific Insurance.) The five story addition was scheduled to be built for $500,000. It would have a 90 foot frontage on St. Helens and be built of reinforced concrete and stone to match the existing Medical Arts building. Ordered by the DFPA. (TNT 7/5/1953, pg. C-12)

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Plywood superintendent's office at construction site for new United Pacific Insurance Co. addition, between Trovani's Junior Bootery and the Medical Arts Building (also owned by United Pacific Insurance.) The marquee for the Music Box Theatre, at 302 So. 9th, can be seen through the window opening in the plywood. The addition would provide 30,000 square feet of office space for the United Pacific's home office. The company would move from the Medical Arts building to the new addition, opening up one entire floor of the building and portions of two others for lease by medical professionals. Ordered by the DFPA. (TNT 7/5/1953, Pg. C-12)

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Plywood barricade and superintendent's office at construction site for new United Pacific Insurance Co. addition, between Trovani's Junior Bootery and the Medical Arts Building (also owned by United Pacific Insurance.) A women walks inside the breezeway formed by the barricade.The completed five story building opened in January of 1955. The building was designed with a foundation able to support 10 stories, so the building could expand upwards if needed. James I. Barnes was the general contractor with F.C. Grosser serving as the mechanical contractor. Ordered by the DFPA. (TNT 7/5/1953, pg. C-12)

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Progress photograph of the construction of the new United Pacific Insurance Co. office building. Heavy machinery works in the area that will become the basement and foundation for the new 5 story office building. The structure will be built of reinforced concrete and stone to match the Medical Arts building. The $500,000 building will add 30,000 square feet of office space for the United Pacific home office. United Pacific organized in Seattle in 1928 and in 1941 bought the Medical Arts building and moved its home offices to Tacoma. It was the only insurance company to maintain home offices in Tacoma.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;