Why is there a large building that looks like a giant concrete tent on Deereco Road? To find out, you have come to the right place!
Built in 1966, the Padonia Commerce Building was originally designed as a regional office and warehouse for the John Deere Company. Its structurally daring design features a swooping, precast concrete roof supported by steel cables embedded into massive concrete anchors. This innovative "tent" style allowed for a massive 197,000-square-foot open interior to accommodate large-scale industrial farm equipment.
The architect, Charles Edwin Lamb (1926–2013), was a noted Maryland modernist and a key partner in the international firm RTKL. His design for this building earned a first-place award from the American Institute of Architects in 1967.
Today, the "concrete tent" houses a variety of local businesses, including a U.S. Post Office branch and Continental Arms.
The cache itself should be a quick drive-by cache. Enjoy the view!!