APPLETON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) Building in Appleton (Outagamie County) on the State Register of Historic Places. The ten-story office building at 222 West College Avenue served as the primary headquarters of the fraternal benefit society from 1952 until 1977. State Historic Preservation Officer Daina Penkiunas presented a certificate to John Cramer, historic preservation consultant.

AAL was incorporated in 1902 with members drawn from churches belonging to the Lutheran Synodical Conference. Operating from this building—and its predecessor on the same site—it became the world’s largest fraternal insurance provider and one of nation’s top insurance providers. In 2002, AAL merged with Lutheran Brotherhood to form Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, known simply as Thrivent, which continues to operate in Appleton today. 

The AAL Building was completed in two phases as the organization grew. The original east block was completed in 1952 in a bold Art Deco style designed by Boston architects Cram & Ferguson. The large west addition was completed in 1966 to match the original building’s design. The exterior exhibits many trademark features of the Art Deco style including vertically accentuated primary facades; polychrome cladding of red granite, yellow brick, and blue-green terra cotta; and a sweeping curved stainless steel sidewalk canopy. Inside, the building retains most of its 1952 and 1966 spaces including its main lobby on the ground floor.

The State Register is Wisconsin's official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin's heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.

Additional information for the Aid Association for Lutherans Building is available at

https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR2808

To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit: www.wisconsinhistory.org.

About the Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.