The History of the Building
Built in 1895 as the “City National Bank” - 7 stories including lower level
- Stone front, brick sides and back
- Approximately 20,000 square feet usable space
- Lower level originally housed public baths, bank vault
- 1 st (Main) Floor was the bank
- Main banking room has skylight and glass block floor over approximately one-third of the floor
- Designed so that light from the skylight would pass through glass block floor and provide some natural light to public bath rooms below.
- Ceilings are 15’ and feature egg and dart, and dental molding
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Main room, outer vestibule, main foyer and elevator lobby have Tennessee Pink marble floors and White Carrera marble wainscot - Small “Library” in back of main floor featured stone fireplace and spiral staircase to library mezzanine
- Mezzanine not original to building; probably added in late 60’s, early 70’s
- Monumental Staircase – Wrought Iron with mahogany handrail and slate steps features fleur de lis and rosette design
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Floors 2-6 – originally office floors - U-shaped layout creates “light well” for skylight below
- East wing and west wing offices connected by lobby featuring same Tennessee Pink marble flooring and White Carrera marble wainscot used on main floor
- Offices have transoms along inside walls to maximize natural light
- Oak woodwork
- All offices have interconnecting doors
- Infrastructure
- Combination gas & electric lights
- Electricity available limited hours in 1896; unreliable
- Heated by huge boiler, probably fueled by coal
- Cage elevator
- Outside fire escape