PCAD - 1st National Bank of Berkeley, Headquarters Building, Downtown, Berkeley, CA

AKA: First National Bank of Berkeley, Headquarters Building, Downtown, Berkeley, CA

Postcard view of the 1st National Bank of Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, c. 1905. Postcard by Edward H. Mitchell, San Francisco, CA, Card #1701, accessed 06/13/2024

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2150 Shattuck Avenue
Downtown, Berkeley, CA 94704

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The 1st National Bank Building occupied the southwestern corner of Shattuck Avenue and Center Street.

Overview

Architect John Galen Howard designed the five-story bank tower for the 1st National Bank of Berkeley in c. 1901, making it one of his earliest commissions in Berkeley, CA.

Building History

This bank building reflected Howard's approach to design. In general, he had a spare aesthetic, tending to focus architectural ornamentation judiciously in certain focal areas. In this case, ornamental elaboration was confined to the building's concatenated arches on the first floor and the cornice at the roofline. When appropriate, Howard frequently employed round-arched openings on first floor spaces.

Demolition

The 1st National Bank of Berkeley Building was torn down.

PCAD id: 18741

Publications

Woodbridge, Sally B., "California: First National Bank Building, ca. 1901", John Galen Howard and the University of California, The Design of a Great Public University Campus, 179, 2002.

1st National Bank of Berkeley, Headquarters Building, Downtown, Berkeley, CA (1901) demolished

Publications