Bank of Italy Building (San Jose, California)

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]

Bank of Italy Building
Bank of America building in Downtown San Jose
Former namesBank of America Building
General information
StatusComplete
TypeCommercial offices
Architectural styleRenaissance Revival
Location12 South First Street
San Jose, California
Coordinates37.3358°N 121.89°W / 37.3358; -121.89
Construction started1925
Completed1926
CostUS$1 million
Height
Antenna spire77.72 m (255.0 ft)
Roof69.2 m (227 ft)
Top floor53.65 m (176.0 ft)
Technical details
Floor count14
Lifts/elevators3
Design and construction
ArchitectHenry A. Minton
References
[1][2][3]

History

The Bank of Italy Building is one of the oldest skyscrapers in the Silicon Valley, and was designed by architect H.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

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]

See also

References
  1. Bank of Italy Building at Emporis
  2. "Bank of Italy Building". SkyscraperPage.
  3. Bank of Italy Building at Structurae
  4. "Old Bank of America Building - San Jose, CA". Waymarking. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  5. "Bank of Italy". History San Jose. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  6. Julia Prodis Sulek (23 May 2010). "Taste of Silicon Valley attracts restaurants, foodies in name of fight against AIDS". The San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  7. "Historic Bank of Italy building sells to local developers with big plans". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
External image
Main entrance as seen from Santa Clara & First
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