Bank of California Building (San Francisco)
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Bank of California Building
| image = Bank of California Building San Francisco wide.jpg
| caption = 1908 structure at right, with 1967 structure behind at left
| alternate_names = 400 California Street
The Grand Old Lady of California Street
| location = 400 California Street
San Francisco, California
| coordinates = {{coord|37.7932|-122.4016|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| completion_date = 1908 / 1967
| building_type = Commercial offices
| roof = {{convert|312|ft|abbr=on}}
| floor_count = 22
| elevator_count =
| cost =
| architect = Walter Danforth Bliss and William Baker Faville /
Anshen & Allen
| structural_engineer=
| main_contractor =
| developer =
| owner =
| management =
| embedded = {{designation list|embed=yes|designation1=SFDL|designation1_number=3|designation1_date=September 3, 1968{{cite web|title=City of San Francisco Designated Landmarks|publisher=City of San Francisco|url=http://www.sf-planning.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=5081|access-date=2012-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325040805/http://sf-planning.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=5081|archive-date=2014-03-25|url-status=dead}}
}}
| references = {{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/118890 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307024659/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/118890 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |title=Emporis building ID 118890 |work=Emporis}}{{SkyscraperPage|15985}}{{Structurae|20021848}}
}}
The Bank of California Building is a 1908 Greco-Roman style structure with a brutalist, {{convert|312|ft|abbr=on}}, 22-story tower annexed in 1967 at 400 California Street in the financial district of San Francisco, California.{{cite web | title=San Francisco Landmark 3: Bank of California | url=http://www.noehill.com/sf/landmarks/sf003.asp | work=NoeHill | year=2010 | access-date=2010-04-15}}{{Citation |title=[Bank of California located at 400 California street] |date=1967-01-05 |url=https://calisphere.org/item/f4e5a831361652c74479bcf41bbe31d9/ |access-date=2024-04-11}}
Union Bank acquired the building in 1996 as part of its merger with Bank of California.{{Cite web |title=Bank of California Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=70832 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}} It was one of the first commercial buildings to be completed following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, leading to a rebirth of the city's financial district.{{Cite web |title=STRUCTURE magazine {{!}} 400 & 430 California Street – Making a Historic Connection |url=https://www.structuremag.org/?p=24459 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.structuremag.org}} Construction was based on the Knickerbocker Trust Company building in New York City.{{Cite web |title=San Francisco Landmark #3: Bank of California |url=https://noehill.com/sf/landmarks/sf003.asp |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=noehill.com}}
History
The Bank of California, a key financial institution in the West, was founded by William Chapman Ralston on July 5, 1864. As the bank rapidly expanded, it soon outgrew its original location. Renowned architects Walter Danforth Bliss and William Baker Faville were commissioned to design a grand new building on the same site.
In January 1906, the bank relocated temporarily to prepare for the construction of its impressive new headquarters. However, progress was abruptly halted by the earthquake and fire on April 18, 1906. Despite the setback, work resumed just six weeks later. The new Bank of California building, fondly known as "The Grand Old Lady of California Street," officially opened on September 8, 1908. It was the first commercial building in the Financial District to emerge from the devastation of the earthquake.
In 1996, the Bank of California merged with Union Bank, forming Union Bank of California, N.A. On September 8, 2008, the historic building was rededicated on its 100th anniversary by Union Bank of California President and CEO Masakki Tanaka, along with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. {{Cite web |title=Bank of California Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=70832 |access-date=2024-08-28}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Financial District, San Francisco}}
{{Buildings in San Francisco|state=collapsed}}
Category:Office buildings completed in 1908
Category:Office buildings completed in 1967
Category:Landmarks in San Francisco
Category:Skyscraper office buildings in San Francisco
Category:Bliss and Faville buildings
Category:Anshen and Allen buildings