Modern Phoenix

TOURS

Please visit our sponsors and partners in the ModPhx community.


Banking on Progress: The History and Future of the Valley National Bank Buildings in Phoenix, AZ

Text and Photos by Walt Lockley

 

Overview:

Branches of Note:

Introduction

Hoskin Ryan Branch

Walter Bimson

Hoskin Ryan's Rehabilitation

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Henry Branch

Banking Competitors Tempe Dome Branch
Bank Locations & Status Safari Branch
Resources and Links Christown Branch
Feedback & Urban Lore Los Arcos Branch
Ajo Al's Branch

 

16th Street and Camelback Branch

This former Valley National Bank on 16th Street just north of Camelback, next door to Ajo Al's, is admittedly not a classic work of architecture. The original bulding dates from the mid-1950s and is the work of Richard Drover, of Weaver and Drover; the addition is of later vintage, maybe 1972.

 

 

Totally rectilinear. It has some nice features of the period, visible in these photos. The brickwork. The racks of shade-cans covering the north windows are a quote from the Palm Springs City Hall and, since they're on the north side, are completely unnecessary.

This bank is well-maintained and I don't wish it ill, but let's just be honest. As a single building design, as a single shape, it doesn't hang together, and is anonymous to the point of being hard to see.

Which makes it an excellent contrast for these others.

The single remarkable thing about this branch is a long regular modernist office building with those IBM-looking faded blue-green panels, growing out the back, and balanced gracefully, sort of, on thin columns. It's obviously a later addition. Erase it mentally, and the original brick building snaps into correct massing and proportion.

 

If you go up those sunny steps you find yourself in an odd kind of well, with a skylight, in front of a door with this cryptic message:

"Inside these doors are bankers, proud of providing dealers with the best service in the world."

 

Banking on Progress: The History and Future of the Valley National Bank Buildings in Phoenix, AZ

Text and Photos by Walt Lockley

 

Overview:

Branches of Note:

Introduction

Hoskin Ryan Branch

Walter Bimson

Hoskin Ryan's Rehabilitation

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Henry Branch

Banking Competitors Tempe Dome Branch
Bank Locations & Status Safari Branch
Resources and Links Christown Branch
Feedback & Urban Lore Los Arcos Branch
Ajo Al's Branch

©2006 Walt Lockley

 

Please visit our sponsors and partners in the ModPhx community.

TOURS

 


modernphoenix.net

The ModernPhoenix website is a community by PixelPixie.net maintained by Matthew and Alison King.
All content is copyright 2003-2008 Alison King or Matthew King unless otherwise noted.

pixelpixie.net