“A space-age bank for a space-age community.”
A postcard from 1963 couldn’t have been more accurate with its description of Sunnyvale’s Bank of the West, originally a branch of the First National Bank of San Jose.
Affectionately nicknamed “The Jetsons Building” or “The Starship Enterprise” by employees, the bank at 380 S. Mathilda Ave. was designed at the peak of the nation’s love affair with all things space.
This year, employees are celebrating the 50th anniversary of what they say is one of the most unique architectural designs for bank buildings in America.
The building’s grand opening in 1963 actually coincided with the opening of the NASA installation at Moffett Field. Many details of the building, such as the full-moon shaped lights in the downstairs area, bring a little bit of outer space down to Earth.
“As you approach the building in the evening, the lights surrounding the edge of the building are lit as if it is a spaceship taking off,” said Lily Ruiz, public relations representative for Bank of the West.
The $250,000 building was designed by Bank Building and Equipment Corporation of America, which is famous for building unusual bank buildings around the U.S., some of which are now on the National Register of Historic Places.
American architect Frank Lloyd Wright influenced the design of the building. Wright designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 532 works throughout the nation in his career.
The circular building once boasted four drive-up windows, two of which are still in operation today. Kennedy-era controls still help bankers speak to customers who drive up and use the tube system to make transactions.
Large windows that stretch from the ground to the ceiling also create the feeling that the building is a part of its environment, rather than an enclosed building.
“I sat in this chair for 18 years and as customers drive by, they’ll see you inside and wave hello,” said former branch manager Linda Carrier, now vice president of Bank of the West for the San Francisco Bay Area. “The outside is inside and the inside is outside here. You feel close to nature, which is just another way this building is so unique.”
Although the Sunnyvale location is not on the national historical registry, the stellar design is near and dear to employees and customers, both old and new, and reminds them of a time when banking was just little bit different.
Branch manager John Abe said tech offices in the vicinity such as LinkedIn, Nokia and Apple further highlight the building as a symbol of America’s enthusiasm for innovation and exploration.
“And we’re now getting them as customers today,” Abe said. “We welcome anyone to come by and check out the building. We’re happy to give tours.”
