Large Basket Building

In Newark, Ohio, USA, the Big Basket building was designed and constructed as the headquarters of the Longaberger Company, which produced handcrafted maple wood baskets and other lifestyle products. The building was planned as a 160-fold replica of the company’s best-selling product, the Medium Market Basket.

The base of the building measures 59 meters in length and 38 meters in width, while the roof section is 62 meters long and 42 meters wide. The roofline measures a total length of 208 feet (approximately 63.4 m) and a width of 142 feet (approximately 43.3 m). The building is accessible via 1500 East Main Street and is located south of Ohio State Route 16.

Architectural Features and Construction Process

The building has seven floors and a total usable area of 17,000 square meters. At its center is an atrium with a glass ceiling that allows natural light to enter. Two massive steel handles, each weighing approximately 75 tons, were designed to be heated during winter to prevent ice buildup. The design, which required the upper floors to be wider than the lower ones, presented significant construction challenges. As former Longaberger president Jim Klein noted, although the building appears simple from the outside, its interior features intricate architectural craftsmanship.

Longaberger Basket Company, Newark, OH (flickr)

History and Usage

The Big Basket was completed in 1997 and began serving as the Longaberger Company’s headquarters. When the company ceased operations in 2016, the building was closed to the public. In 2019, during a fundraising tour organized by Heritage Ohio, the building was reopened to the public for the first time, attracting more than 600 visitors. Some of the cherry wood used in the building’s construction was sourced from the Longaberger Golf Club property in Hannover.

Cultural and Architectural Significance

The Big Basket is one of the leading examples of mimetic architecture and innovative corporate headquarters. The building’s details, including decorative elements referencing Longaberger’s handcrafted baskets and gold-leafed signage, complete its distinctive design.

Current Status

The Longaberger Company closed in 2018, and the building remained vacant for an extended period. Sold in 2018 for $1.2 million, the building was relisted on the market in 2021. Today, it is being evaluated for restoration and potential reuse as temporary office space, a hotel, or residential units.