by Laurel | April 16th, 2012
16 April 1928
Holyoke Savings Bank Building, 2012
The new building for the Holyoke Savings bank is to be located on Chestnut street at the corner of Suffolk Street and will add to the city a notable example of modern banking facilities. The architects are Hutchins & French of Boston who have had a large experience in bank planning. The contract for the construction of the building has been awarded to the John F. Griffin Company of Boston. The heating work will be installed by the Holyoke Supply Company and the electric Work will be done by the Roland T. Oakes Company of Holyoke.
The building will have a frontage of 55 feet and a depth of 105 feet. The structural features will be up to date in every particular wand will be of fireproof construction. The entire building is to be occupied by the bank, which includes the basement, first floor and mezzanine floor.
Holyoke Savings Bank, 1928 Architectural Plans, Chestnut & Suffolk Streets
In style, the building is reminiscent of English architecture of the 18th century, whose most famous exponents were the brothers Adam. the exterior walls are to be faced with dark red water struck brick with limestone trimmings. The main entrance on Chestnut Street will have bronze doors and trim framed with engaged columns and arch of white Vermont marble. the side entrance on Suffolk street will have a similar appearance. The design of the front elevation with fluted pilasters and cornices of limestone, will be repeated on the side elevation. The name of the bank in bronze letters will be applied to the stone frieze on the two street elevations.
The interior has been designed with due regard to the latest ideas in bank requirements, efficiency and beauty. The first floor is to be arranged on the so-called “island-plan” with working space in the center of the room with the public space for customers at the front and two sides. On the Suffolk Street side adjacent to the public space will be located the officers’ space and treasurers’ office. Directly at the rear of the working space will be located the main security vault, a book vault and a special work room for bookkeeping machines. These vaults will be the last word in burglar and fireproof vault construction, for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston , and the equipment in the new vaults of this bank is of the same general type. The materials and construction are such as to offer the greatest resistance to every known method of attack. The walls of the security vaults are of reinforced concrete and steel plates. The walls, door and locks are wired with an electric protective system of the highest type. Electric alarm buttons are installed at other convenient points to provide additional protection. A women’s room with toilet facilities is to be provided at the right end of public space.
The walls of the main banking room are to be paneled full height in American walnut with fluted pilasters and ornamental cornice. The banking room is 30 feet high with an arched ceiling decorated with plaster ornament.
The floor of the public space will be of white Italian marble with alternate tiles of Belgian black marble. The counter screen will be faced with Botticino marble to the height of the shelf, surmounted by an ornamental grille screen of bronze.
In the mezzanine story will be located the trustees’ room, committee room, coat room, women clerks; room and toilet rooms. The trustees’ room is designed with a fireplace and wood paneling full height of walls, and is to have a rubber tile floor. The basement will provide for a storage vault, men clerks’ locker room, toilet room, supply room, boiler room and electric room, the balance of the space being a large storage room.
Adapted from The Springfield Republican, color image from Bing.com.
