Seattle Historical Sites

This Modernist building was designed for the National Bank of Commerce in 1952 by the architecture firm of George Wellington Stoddard and Associates. Completed in 1953, it is a well-designed International Modernist building, typical of its time. The building appears to have maintained its integrity, at least on the main façade and the main bay of the south elevation. The building is also part of the Modernist phase of Stoddard’s work and another interesting example of his bank design. The building was described as a branch of the National Bank of Commerce at least until 1974.

The National Bank of Commerce was a repeat client for Stoddard. Stoddard was also conversant with historical styles. For example, during the 1930s, in association with architect Harrison John Overturf, Stoddard made compatible interior and exterior alterations to a classically designed bank building for the National Bank of Commerce, (originally built in 1909).  On the other hand, Stoddard’s Modernist design for a downtown branch of the National Bank of Commerce later replaced that building. Now a branch of the Bank of America, the bank building still stands at 500 Olive Way.

George Wellington Stoddard, who was born in 1896, received a B.S. in architecture from the University of Illinois in 1917. He began his career in partnership with his father Lewis M. Stoddard. From the time of his father’s death in 1929 until 1955, George Stoddard maintained an independent practice. Stoddard designed apartment buildings, houses, warehouses, in addition to banks. Other examples of his work that show his grasp of historical styles include a striking, but little known warehouse in the Art Deco Style at 777 Thomas Street, completed in 1931. In the Denny Triangle, “Stoddard & Son, Architect and Engineer,” designed the somewhat eclectic but Gothic/ Art Deco inspired garage building at 600 Olive Way (1925), now directly across the street from 500 Olive Way. Stoddard also designed Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center in 1947 and the Green Lake Aqua Theater in 1950. From 1955 to 1960, he was a partner in Stoddard, Huggard and Associates. He died in September of 1967.

By 1980, the building itself housed a branch of what was then called Rainier National Bank, to be succeeded, in 1980, by the King County Employees Credit Union. The building has consistently operated as a bank building. The building mostly recently housed a branch of the Evergreen Bank.

This two-story bank building is located on the northwest corner of 1^st Avenue South and Stacy St. Its plan is virtually rectangular and certainly rectilinear.  The north bay, which has no windows and is covered with brick veneer, projects out very slightly. The back of the building, facing west, also has a series of projections, which make the floor plan shape slightly irregular. Exterior walls are of concrete, covered by a variety of veneers, when not exposed, particularly on the main façade. The roof appears to be mainly flat and there is a parapet, topped by cast stone coping.

Although there are implied symmetries in the composition of the façade, the façade is not entirely symmetrical, although balanced. The main part of the façade is framed visually by brick veneer, set overhead just below the parapet, to each side and below, by a low sill, also covered in brick. The width of the north bay, already described, is wider than the brick veneer on the south end of the façade. Within this brick frame, the façade includes storefronts and a main entrance at the ground level.

The disposition of the storefronts and main entrance is also not symmetrical. Typically, storefronts are divided by metal hardware into two tall plate glass panes, set over two smaller glass panes. There are three such storefronts on the south side of the façade, followed by the glazed entry. The entry has a glazed double door, framed by multi-pane sidelights, as well as overhead glazing, also multi-pane, with all glazing set in metal frames. The main entrance is followed by five storefronts.

Ceramic veneer covers the long spandrel between the storefronts and the second floor windows. Typically each of the window openings contains two larger rectangular panes, set over two smaller ones, which were once operable. Thin metal muntins separate the panes. There are nine window bays, which correspond to the openings at the first floor level. Above the second floor windows, there is a long cast-stone lintel, similar to the cast stone trim of the coping. This cast stone band visually ties the windows together. Based on original drawings, even the fenestration and storefronts reflect the original design. The greatest change seems to be the subsequent addition of the signage for Evergreen Home Bank over the main entry.

A fairly wide bay on the south elevation is also mainly covered in brick veneer. The actual glazing consists of a tripartite row of tall windows. This is topped at the second level by a set of windows, with taller panes, set over smaller operable panes. Based on original drawings, the building exterior, at least on the main façade and south elevation has maintained its integrity. Even the fenestration and storefronts reflect the original design. If not original, they are a good replacement in kind.