Bank of Italy Building (San Jose, California)
| Bank of Italy Building | |
|---|---|
 Bank of America building in Downtown San Jose | |
 | |
| Former names | Bank of America Building |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Location | 12 South First Street San Jose, California |
| Coordinates | 37°20′09″N 121°53′24″W / 37.3358°N 121.89°W |
| Construction started | 1925 |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Cost | US$1 million |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 77.72 m (255.0 ft) |
| Roof | 69.2 m (227 ft) |
| Top floor | 53.65 m (176.0 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 14 |
| Lifts/elevators | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Henry A. Minton |
| References | |
| [1][2][3] | |
The Bank of Italy Building is a 14-story, 77.72 m (255.0 ft) Renaissance Revival high-rise built in 1925 in downtown San Jose, California. This building became the second home to the first branch of the Bank of Italy, founded in San Francisco in 1904, which later became the Bank of America.[4] The first location of the Bank of Italy in San Jose, was on the corner of Santa Clara St. and Lightson Alley, near the intersection with Market Street. Restaurants and other businesses occupy the original building, which has been heavily remodeled. A reconstruction of the original building is at History Park in San Jose.[5]
History
[edit]The Bank of Italy Building is one of the oldest skyscrapers in the Silicon Valley, and was designed by architect Henry A. Minton. From when it was built in 1926 until 1970, it was the tallest building between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is a Mediterranean Revival—Beaux-Arts architecture style structure, with a red-tile hip roof and a decorative cupola with a needle-like spire featuring a tall green light.
Present
[edit]The building is a designated San Jose Historical Landmark, and in a National Register of Historic Places—Historic District. It is currently used for office space for various law firms and tax services among others, in addition to a pawn shop and a night club, and formerly an AIDS advocacy group.[6] The building was sold to local developers and real estate investors Gary Dillabough and Jeff Arrillaga for $27.04 million in December 2017.[7] The latest plan and permits submitted to the city includes converting the building to housing and a new restaurant with terraces. [8]
See also
[edit]- Bank of America History
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Clara County, California
References
[edit]- ^ "Emporis building ID 118602". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Bank of Italy Building". SkyscraperPage.
- ^ Bank of Italy Building at Structurae
- ^ "Old Bank of America Building - San Jose, CA". Waymarking. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- ^ "Bank of Italy". History San Jose. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- ^ Julia Prodis Sulek (May 23, 2010). "Taste of Silicon Valley attracts restaurants, foodies in name of fight against AIDS". The San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- ^ "Historic Bank of Italy building sells to local developers with big plans". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ www.twitter.com https://twitter.com/TheSanJoseBlog/status/1775099995047530860. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
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External links
[edit]
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Main entrance as seen from Santa Clara & First |
- History of Santa Clara County, California
- Beaux-Arts architecture in California
- Mediterranean Revival architecture in California
- Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in California
- National Register of Historic Places in Santa Clara County, California
- Skyscraper office buildings in San Jose, California