| Address: |
595 E COLORADO Blvd |
APN: |
5723-029-027 |
This property is listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places.
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| Address: |
595 E COLORADO Blvd |
| City: |
Pasadena |
State: |
CA |
| Zip Code: |
91101 |
County: |
Los Angeles |
| County Code: |
37 |
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| Historic Name: |
FIRST TRUST BUILDING |
Common Name: |
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| APN: |
5723-029-027 |
Zoning: |
CD4 |
| Building Sq. Ft: |
122189 |
Site Size (Acres): |
0.410 |
| Year Built: |
1928 Documented |
District: |
PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
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| District: |
PASADENA PLAYHOUSE (designated)
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Property Status: |
Designated |
| Contributing Status: |
C |
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| Resource Description: |
The First Trust Building is a 6-8 story, "L" shaped reinforced concrete commercial building housing both a bank and 4-6 floors of offices. The design inspiration comes from the Italian Renaissance style of Tuscany and Florence. The unusual massing takes its lead from the New York zoning codes of the time by stepping back the final two stories from the east and west sides. These floors are topped by a gently sloped red tile hipped roof. At the peak is a steel and glass cupola which originally housed a revolving beacon giving the building a prominent place in the Pasadena skyline. With its beautiful exterior cast stonework, it remains a fine example of commercial architecture in the city. The main interior rooms originally were occupied by two separate but closely related banks, the First National Bank and the First Trust and Savings. An ornate coffered ceiling and four large impressionistic murals grace the front banking room. A unique feature is the parking structure built to the north as part of the building complex.
Both the south and west facades, which are built right along the sidewalk line, are highly articulated with the south one (Colorado Boulevard) treated as the main entrance. The exterior base, approximately 2'-3' high, is of a highly polished light brown granite. Continuing up the facades, the first forty feet including the first floor, mezzanine, and second floor are faced with a cream colored cast stone. The first floor and mezzanine are combined together as a highly rusticated arcade with large arched wrought iron framed windows which continues around the two major facades. The cast stone was picked with pneumatic tools to give the appearance and texture of real stone. The second floor is less rusticated with smaller rectangular windows. Above this level the exterior is predominantly stucco with cast stone used as a highlight in vertical bands and in the frieze.
The west elevation, fronting North Madison Avenue, is divided into three parts both vertically, above the second floor, and horizontally. The vertical divisions, achieved by using cast stone blocks, are every six windows on the office portion and at the corners. This division stops at the bottom of the sixth floor. It is in the horizontal bands that the characteristics of the Italian Renaissance style become apparent.
The ornamental shields and heavy rustication of the base are typical of an Italian palazzo. These large shields are placed between the arched windows. They are high relief cast stone and the individual designs include: the initials of the two banks, the First National Bank and the First Trust and Savings Bank; the
crown and key of Pasadena; and the eagle and shield of the United States. The second story is unornamented except for the stonework but is bordered on both top and bottom by articulated cornice lines. From here on up the windows are smaller and rectangular.
The sixth floor once again is highly ornamented and is treated as a "story-high" frieze. Between the windows, there are low relief cast panels reflecting the same themes as the interior murals. The four scenes are a citrus tree, a movie camera, an oil derrick and a ship. In keeping with the symbols, the background consists of related foliage: seaweed, oak, pepper trees and garlands of fruit. The crowning element is a stone balustrade that turns the corner and continues as part of the south facade.
The south facade composition is similar to the west one continuing the horizontal lines and ornamental treatment across its seven bays. The main entrance to the building is through bronze and glass doors in the centermost bay with the banks occupying the western three bays and shops occupying the remaining three on the ground floor. Cast stone shields are placed between the arched windows of the ground floor completing the pattern started on the west facade. The sixth floor frieze and balustrade also appears on the outermost bay on each side further strengthening the composition. Once again the cast panel scheme inspired from the interior decorations is used. Differing from the six story height of the majority of the building, the four center bays rise to eight stories. This change is emphasized by two vertical bands of cast stone extending to the frieze on the top floor. The unique feature of this facade is a balcony located in the center at the sixth floor level. It is of cast stone and designed in the Italianate style complete with large ornate brackets.
The other facades are less ornamented and more utilitarian looking. There is a two-story building to the east of the First Trust Building which hides the lower
portion of the bank's east facade. Above this level the rectangular windows of the office floors can be seen. Each floor has four windows across with a smaller window in the middle at the halfway point between floors.
The north side of the building, the inside of the "L," is complex as a its geometric massing. The arched window arcade continues around from facade for two bays, one of which serves as the back entrance into the rooms. Once again the rectangular windows of the offices can be seen first level on both facades. Along the east side of the North Madison is a two bay portion which is only two stories tall. It has a covered which leads into the main lobby of the building from the parking lot. center of the north facing facade, the back of the Colorado Boulevard projecting vertical shaft, rising up to the base of the rooftop cupola encloses the elevator shafts and main staircase.
The great concern for careful detailing and quality of craftsmanship carries over to the interior as is seen in the main banking rooms. The original two banks each had their own room. The more grandiose room which belonged to the First National Bank occupied the front corner position. The First Trust and Savings Bank was located directly behind and was reached by a short marble staircase. Between the two rooms is a small lobby containing two elevators and a grand marble staircase connecting to the basement safety deposit boxes, the mezzanine level and the Trust Department on the second floor. The banks can be entered directly from Colorado Boulevard and from a parking area north of the building.
The interior of the building is as equally well preserved as the exterior. Original walnut desks and tellers' cages remain in excellent condition. Bronze and glass are also used for fixtures such as teller screens. The walls are paneled in walnut to the height of eight feet and above to the ceiling height of 28 feet, the walls are travertine marble as is the floor. Fourteen cast stone Corinthian columns mark the public section of the banking room and help to support the coffered ceiling.
The ceiling was designed by John Smeral di with two levels, the lower portion outside the columns over the desks. It is richly painted in blue, red and gold gilding. Above the public area there are four inset panels each containing a shield surrounded by carved wreaths of flowers and fruits. The shields, repeating the outside patterns, are carved as the symbol of the United States, the City of Pasadena, the First National Bank and the State of California. The two large chandeliers over the public area were designed as ornamental pieces rather than to be the sole source of light.
The highlight of the room is four colorful and eyecatching murals by Alson Clark. Their large size, 10'xl6', and placement on the east wall reflects the window arcade of the elevations. The scenes are reminiscent of Pasadena and Southern California industries and are not only artistic but technically correct. One scene is of a movie being filmed and another is of a crew working on an oil field. The third shows a fishing ship in the Los Angeles Harbor and the last is a scene at harvest time in a citrus grove.
The First Trust and Savings Bank room is smaller and is oriented east-west opposite of the main banking room. The tall ceiling height is exploited in this room on the eastern end by the introduction of a mezzanine level which overlooks the room. Although the walls and floor have a similar treatment to the first room, the ceiling is quite different. It is made of heavy beams with gilded mouldings. Large panels of decorative symbols are painted on the wood referring back to the coffered ceiling of the First National Bank.
Through the centermost doors along Colorado Boulevard is the main lobby of the First Trust Building. It has the same marble flooring and travertine marble faced walls found in the banking rooms. The ceiling is coffered and painted in cream and red with gold gilding. Circling the room at ceiling height is a carved relief plasterwork band. It is quite ornate having a vinelike pattern of scrolls. Along the west walls there is an entrance into the front banking room. Just beyond this is an added snack bar and then a bank of three elevators. These have bronze frames designed in keeping with the building motifs. This area of the lobby is wider allowing for access to the north parking lot and a staircase leading to the office levels.
Each office floor has a small unornamented elevator lobby off the main hallway. The walls of the lobby are marble faced while the rest of the walls have a plaster finish. As in other parts of the building, the floor is marble tiled. The floor plan is a simple double loaded corridor providing each office with natural light and ventilation from at least one side. The doors are simple wood ones whose only ornament is a nameplate. This layout is repeated on the third through sixth floors and in a slightly modified version, due to the change in building massing, on the seventh and eighth floors.
The First Trust Building retains its prominence as a focal point along Colorado Boulevard. It is situated on a corner lot built right to the property line. The majority of the nearby structures are one and two story commercial buildings with little ornament. Its monumental massing and careful attention to detail immediately catches the eye when the streetscape is viewed as a whole. North of the building is a parking lot servicing the First Trust Building. It is accessed by a driveway between this building and its companion parking garage on North Madison Avenue.
A few alterations have been made to both the exterior and interior. On the south facade a portion of the right bank window was replaced with an automatic teller
machine. Granite from the original quarry was used to surround the machine and all original materials are being saved in case the machine is taken out. The original double hung office windows have been replaced by operable single pane anodized aluminum windows. In the smaller banking room the mezzanine level is no
longer open to the room. There is now a marble faced wall just behind the balcony railing. On the office levels a drop ceiling of acoustical tiles has been introduced just above door height.
North of the First Trust Building is a two story, "L" shaped, poured in place concrete parking garage in the Italian Renaissance style. The first story along the west facade is occupied by several small retail shops giving life to the street. An original garage entrance at the north end of the building leads to parking behind the stores and up a ramp to the second level for additional parking. The overall design is simple yet formal with the ornament carried around two facades, south and west, giving the building a finished look.
The west facade facing Madison Avenue is treated as the major one. Along its face are six bays marked by cast stone columns and quoined corners. These columns run the height of the first floor and are crowned by cast stone high relief shields. Between these are the shopfronts with their large windows resting on polished granite bases. Marking the floor line is a simple slightly projecting cornice line. The second story is more ornamented. Centered in each bay is a square window screened with an iron grill to provide ventilation to the interior. The frames are raised cast stone flanked by elongated scrolls. High relief cast stone garlands of fruit are placed below each window. The upper cornice is more elaborate including a frieze of vertical fluting interrupted at each bay by small rosettes. The composition continues in the same proportions along the south facade. These two facades have a finish coating of stucco over the concrete while the north and east facades are left rough so the horizontal framework lines are visible. The only openings in these walls are small vents.
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| Legal Description: |
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| Primary Architectural Style: |
Beaux Arts |
| Secondary Architectural Style: |
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| Architect: |
Bennett & Haskell |
| Builder: |
J. V. McNeil Co. |
| Contractor: |
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| Context: |
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| Original Owner: |
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| Original Use: |
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| Original Location: |
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| Demolished: |
no |
| Notes: |
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| Moved: |
no |
| Date Moved: |
n/a |
| Designation Date: |
n/a |
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* This is a simplified statement of the property's status. Please review the NRHP Status Code field on the search screen for official, adopted status language.
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