Shell Service Station, Historic filling station in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The Shell Service Station is a concrete structure shaped like a giant scallop shell with a central office and yellow-orange exterior. The building was constructed by first creating an interior office, then building a wire frame in the shell shape before coating it with concrete.
The station was built in 1930 by R.H. Burton as one of eight Shell stations constructed in Winston-Salem to expand the company's market presence. This expansion strategy made it a recognizable landmark in the city.
The building shows how companies in the 1930s turned their brand logos into the actual shape of buildings to catch people's attention and stand out from competitors.
The station was preserved by Preservation North Carolina after a comprehensive restoration in the 1970s and is open to visitors today. It is helpful to check opening hours and any guided tour options before planning your visit.
The building was constructed using an innovative method where a wire frame was built first and then coated with concrete. This technique was uncommon for building construction at that time and shows the experimental spirit of 1930s architecture.
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