Commercial National Bank – Washington, DC
Posted by: BruceS
N 38° 53.904 W 077° 01.906
18S E 323806 N 4307464
Historic former bank building also known as the Western Union building downtown Washington, DC.
Waymark Code: WMNZ3R
Location: District of Columbia, United States
Date Posted: 05/27/2015
Views: 7
The Commercial National Bank, designed by Waddy B. Wood in 1917, is an 11 story office building at the north west corner of the intersection of 14th and G Streets, N.W. The principal facades are limestone over steel frame construction. The building displays a particularly austere neo-classicism. The traditional tripartite exterior organization of base-shaft-crown is retained and simplified. The building, which is detailed on both street facades, relies primarily on the Greek Doric order as precedent for its ornament. The three-story base is composed of pilasters with Ionic capitals supporting a simple entablature at the third floor level. This motif, which occupies only the central portion of each facade, reads as a flattened, simplified portico. The height and detailing of the base reflects the height of the original banking room (now infilled and subdivided). Spandrel panels embellished with decorative motifs loosely based on Greek precedent extend between the pilasters at the location of earlier mezzanines; the three central bays along 14th Street at the location of the banking room have encircled monograms at this level. The glazing on each of the windows is framed by a Doric grille. Roundels with bas relief decorate the frieze of this entablature. The shaft bears no detail and consists of window openings punched into the facade in a uniform manner. The uppermost floor and projecting cornice form the crown of the building. Composed of triglyphs and metopes, the upper floor constitutes the frieze. Metal grilles inspired by Hellenic vase decoration embellish the metopes. (It is not known whether windows were placed behind these grilles or whether the top floor was lit entirely by the large lantern, not visible from the street, above the roof level.) The cornice features lion heads alternated with palmette antefixae. There are four entrances to the original building. The two entrances on G Street are placed at either end of the facade, outside the portico motif, and framed by a simple architrave molding. The entrance at the east provided access to the banking room and bank facilities located in the basement. The entrance at the west opened into the elevator lobby for the upper, office floors. On the 14th Street facade, entrances were incorporated within the bays of the flattened portico. The entrance to Western Union was at the north end; the main entrance to the banking room was housed within the central bay.
– National Register Nomination
The Commercial National Bank building is in very good condition. It houses offices including the offices for AAA Mid-Atlantic and has a Starbucks the first floor.
Street address: 1405 G St., NW. Washington, District of Columbia
County / Borough / Parish: District of Columbia
Year listed: 1991
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1900-1924; 1925-1949
Historic function: Commerce/Trade, Communications
Current function: Commerce/Trade
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions: Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
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