First National Bank Building (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

The first building on the property, the Merchants Bank Building, was built in 1915 and opened in 1916. Rising 228 feet tall and with 16 stories, the building was the tallest in Saint Paul until it was overtaken by Wells Fargo Place.[http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=27025 Merchants Bank Building] SkyscraperPage.com{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120729041912/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=merchantsbankbuilding-streetpaul-mn-usa Merchant's Bank Building]}} Emporis. The First National Bank Building was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White in 1931 after Merchants National Bank was absorbed by First National Bank.{{cite book|pages=161|title=St. Paul's Architecture: A History|last=Hess|first=Jeffrey A.|author2=Clifford Larson|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|year=2006|isbn=0-8166-3590-0}} The 32-story structure struggled to acquire materials in 1930 due to the construction of the Empire State Building at the same time.Wilcoxen, William (November 25, 2005) [http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/11/25_wilcoxenw_firstbank/ "Tough times for the beacon of St. Paul"] Minnesota Public Radio In 1932 the cost of the building was $3,340,185.44.{{Cite book |author1=Chappell, Kitt |author2=Sally, A. | year = 1992 | title = Architecture and planning of Graham, Anderson, Probst, and White, 1912–1936 | isbn = 0-226-10134-7

| publisher=University of Chicago Press | location = Chicago | oclc = 23212354 | pages = 241–243

| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VDtdoWdT8EEC&q=%22first+national+bank+building%22+st.+paul&pg=PA241 }}

File:First National Bank Building, Saint Paul, MN.jpg

It is believed that the world's first modern skyway was built to connect the two towers. The skyway connects the building's 17th floor with the adjacent 16-story Merchants Bank Building, which is part of the same property. It is the Twin Cities' tallest skyway.{{cite book |last=Millett |first=Larry |author-link=Larry Millett |title=AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul |year=2007 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |isbn=978-0-87351-540-5 |pages=324}} The skyway with six tinted windows was built in 1931 in conjunction with the building. The Merchants Bank Building was the tallest in Saint Paul from 1915 to 1931, when the First National Bank Building overtook it.Soenarie, Angelique (April 11, 2004), "What is it? – It looks familiar but ..." Saint Paul Pioneer Press

The building is best known for the large neon red "1st" sign atop it. The sign has three sides and is 50 feet tall."[http://www.citypages.com/bestof/2008/award/best-use-of-neon-lighting-443772/ Best Use Of Neon Lighting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921133011/http://www.citypages.com/bestof/2008/award/best-use-of-neon-lighting-443772/ |date=September 21, 2008 }}" City Pages In 1973, it was turned off in response to the energy crisis. It was relit ten years later after a major renovation. The original "vermillion vitreous porcelain edged [sign] with a double row of red neon tubes" was replaced with solely red tubes. Around 4,000 feet of neon tubing was used in the renovation. The sign can be seen from almost 75 miles away at night and 20 miles on a clear day."[http://www.capitolrivercouncil.org/city_secrets.aspx First National Bank Building] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925113608/http://www.capitolrivercouncil.org/city_secrets.aspx |date=September 25, 2008 }}" CapitolRiver District Council.File:First National Bank Building Entrance in Saint Paul MN.jpg After renovation in 2016 due to wind damage, the sign was relit, with a color-changing LED sign. For the Winter Carnival in 2017, the sign changed color from neon red to icy blue.{{Cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/2017/01/30/a-1st-for-st-pauls-1st-national-bank-sign-its-blue/|title=1st National Bank sign shines a new color for 1st time|access-date=2017-03-04}} In 2017, the sign was changed to purple in honor of the first anniversary of musician Prince's death.

An addition to the north was constructed in 1971, designed by Haarstick, Lundgren & Assoc.

The building is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places but not listed. Its overall design is Art Deco.Yuen, Laura (September 9, 2005) "Iconic sign may get company – Anchor Bank plan lights up some foes", Saint Paul Pioneer Press The building was the tallest in Saint Paul from its construction in 1931 till 1986, when Galtier Plaza (now Cray Plaza) overtook it. It is now Saint Paul's third-tallest building, behind Jackson Tower of Cray Plaza and Wells Fargo Place (formerly the Minnesota World Trade Center)."[http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=256 St. Paul Skyscraper Diagram]" SkyscraperPage.com

The building was sold in 2007 to First National Building Holdings for an undisclosed amount. It was sold again in 2012 to an unknown organization. Three years later, it was sold to Madison Equities of St. Paul.Wyant, Carissa (January 23, 2007) [http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/01/22/daily19.html "St. Paul's First National Bank building sold"] Minneapolis / St. Paul Business JournalGilyard, Buryl (September 20, 2012)

[http://finance-commerce.com/2012/06/first-national-bank-building-sold/] [Burl Gilyard]Painter, Kristen (November 2, 2015) [https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-firm-buys-the-building-with-the-big-number-1-on-it/339476421/] [Kristen Painter]

• List of tallest buildings in St. Paul

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{{Commons category|First National Bank Building (Saint Paul, Minnesota)}}

• [https://firstnationalbankbuilding.com/ Official website]

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{{Succession box

| before=Cathedral of Saint Paul

| title=Tallest Building in Saint Paul

| years=1931—1986
127 m

| after=Galtier Plaza

}}

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Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Category:Art Deco architecture in Minnesota

Category:Office buildings completed in 1931