| Historic Name: |
Old National Bank Building |
Common Name: |
Starbucks Coffee |
| Style: |
Commercial |
Neighborhood: |
Commercial Core |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1922 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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This property is directly associated with the early twentieth century developmental era (1920-1930) when a significant number of commercial buildings were constructed and the modern downtown commercial district was fully established. In 1923, Seattle adopted its first ordinance that regulated specific geographic areas for specified uses; it allowed the most densely concentrated commercial development to occur in the downtown core. The economic prosperity of the 1920s stimulated the development of numerous major highrise commercial buildings, as well as smaller-scale bank and commercial buildings, major hotels and apartment hotels, club buildings and entertainment facilities, which were all typically designed by leading Seattle architects. During this era, the original residential district was entirely absorbed by commercial and other real estate development. By 1930, virtually all of the old residential properties - as well as many of the immediate post-fire era commercial buildings outside of Pioneer Square - had been demolished or removed.
This building is one of a collection of extant two-story commercial block buildings (mostly dating from the 1920s) that share similar building form, scale, exterior cladding and ornate architectural treatment. Like commercial highrise construction of this era, they are typically located at a prominent corner of a downtown block with matching facades at each elevation; however, mid-block locations with a single façade were also commonly constructed. Their most distinctive features are glazed terra cotta cladding and/or other terra cotta components that both reveal the underlying structural system and allowed architects to utilize a wide range of eclectic architecture styles that were particularly popular during this era. In this case the details are drawn from the Classical design mode, which was heavily used in terra cotta design during the 1910s; whereas, in the 1920s a wider range of popular revival styles were designed and constructed. During this era, neighborhood commercial districts also flourished with similar building types. Other extant terra cotta clad two-story, commercial block buildings that are located downtown and fit within this category include: the Ames Building (Charles Bebb, 1914), Broderick Building (John Graham, Sr., 1922), Liberty Building (Nevins and Horrocks, 1924), Centennial Building (Henry Bittman, 1925), Mann Building/Embassy Theater (Henry Bittman, 1926) and the much altered/partly demolished Pande Cameron Building (Henry Bittman, 1928). Similar extant two-story, commercial block buildings that are partially clad or decorated with terra cotta ornament include: the S.J. Holmes Building (J. Lister Holmes, 1924); Jordan Building (Lawton & Moldenhour, 1920) and the Colony Club ((John Creutzer, 1928).
This building was constructed in 1922 for Wolf & Smith, believed to be a real estate investment firm. It was designed by Henry H. James and intended for retail and office use. By 1935, it was in the ownership of Sarah J. Smith, presumably a relative of one of the developers, and it housed three retail operations including a large drug store with a soda fountain. For many years into the 1980s, the building was used as a branch banking facility for Old National Bank (ONB) and became commonly referred to by that name; however, it currently houses a Starbucks Coffee shop on the main retail level.
The architect for the Old National Bank Building was Henry H. James; however, no biographical information has been gathered about him and virtually nothing is known about his career in Seattle or elsewhere. In 1922, his offices were located in the American Bank Building.
This is a generally intact and well- preserved example of a distinct downtown property type, a two-story, terra cotta clad commercial block. It is a noteworthy example of commercial block design executed in the Classical mode utilizing glazed terra cotta cladding and other terra cotta components. [This property was previously determined eligible for listing in the National Register by the SHPO. It may potentially meet local landmark criteria.]
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| Appearance |
| Located at the sloping SW corner of Fourth Avenue and Seneca Street, this two-story commercial block continues to house retail and office uses. It measures 51’ x 60’ and exhibits classically-derived architectural ornament. The masonry structure includes a concrete foundation and basement and is clad with ivory-color glazed terra cotta and further distinguished by an elaborate terra cotta cornice with ornate cresting.
The two-part commercial block façade is divided by terra cotta pilasters into three bays on Fourth Avenue and three slightly narrower bays on Seneca Street. The two-story structural piers are clad with terra cotta pilasters terminating in composite capitals that are inscribed with an “S.” A highly ornate entablature and cornice crown the building with a frieze of shields and floral motifs, a dentil course, modillions, a molded terminal cornice and cresting composed of alternating acroteria and fleurs-de-lis. Terra cotta decorated spandrels and mullions further distinguish the second floor level. All of the original upper floor level Chicago type windows have been replaced with a somewhat similar modern product.
All of the retail storefronts within the original storefront bays (including those oriented toward Seneca Street) have been reconstructed with modern display windows and/or door assemblies. The south bay at Fourth Avenue is most drastically altered. An original glass and metal marquee at Fourth Avenue has been removed. The terra cotta cladding and ornament appear to be damaged and deteriorating. The interior has been entirely remodeled and no intact or architecturally significant interior building features, finishes or public spaces remain in place. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Terra cotta |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Flat with Parapet |
Roof Material(s): |
Unknown |
| Building Type: |
Commercial/Trade - Business |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Masonry - Unreinforced |
No. of Stories: |
two |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Commerce |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Windows: |
Moderate |
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Storefront: |
Extensive |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Courtois, Shirley L. METRO Downtown Seattle Transit Project FEIS Inventory Form, 1984.
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Seattle Inventory Field Form, Office of Urban Conservation, 1979.
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Aldredge, Lydia. Impressions of Imagination: Terra Cotta Seattle, Allied Arts of Seattle, 1986.
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