Masonry Magazine November 1966 Page. 11
southwest...
Recognizing the need to provide greater financial service for the growing Tuscon area, The First National Bank of Arizona carefully planned a structure to meet that need.
Utilizing the skills of the architectural firm of Cain, Nelson and Wares and the experience gained by the bank's staff in serving the people of Tuscon for over 63 years, a design was evolved that presented an open and welcome feeling to the public. The high lobby-23 feet 6 inches at the crown-with a minimum of visual separation from the street was developed to express this feeling. To expand this two-story open space, the mezzanine area was treated as a free-standing unit with the full height of the structure surrounding it on three sides.
To minimize the impression of lightness and impermanence associated with an open design, brick was selected for the basic material, which gives a feeling of mass and permanence particularly when associated with vaulted and corbeled forms. A dark colored unit was selected to provide relief from the surrounding glare. The strong sunlight of Tuscon places great importance on the effects of light that a flash-glazed finish was selected. Brick paving was selected to create a unity in the design, to heighten the feeling of mass and to emphasize the flow of space from exterior to interior. A total of 335,000 brick were used in the bank.
The interior design of the First National's new office reflects the bank's progressive and creative character.
The impressive ceiling treatment highlights the architects ingenuity and the skill of the craftsmen of Albert Grabe, Mason Contractor, MCAA Member.