photo by Wes Schultz
My compliments to Wesley Schultz for today's impresssive photo of the First Tennessee Bank building.
Newcomers to Chattanooga may not realize that this structure was built in 1911 as Hamilton National Bank. The original Beaux-Arts style facade was the brilliant work of legendary Chattanooga architect Reuben Harrison Hunt, who also designed the James Building, Maclellan Building, Solomon Federal Building and Memorial Auditorium, to name just a few.
In 1966, for whatever reason, Hamilton National Bank's classic architecture was masked by installation of the current glass and metal skin. Wouldn't it be great if this could be removed and the building restored to its original state? In celebration of our exciting, revitalzed downtown, it may also be time to celebrate Chattanooga's architectural heritage.
Bill Holt
Chattanooga
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If I understand the facts, the façade that covers the First Tennessee Bank Building is there for a good reason.
The original design of the building featured a U-shaped footprint, similar to the James Building, the Volunteer Life Building, and other Chattanooga landmarks of that era. At some point the "U" was closed in with non-matching materials to create more usable space on each floor. The façade covers the fact that one side of the building is quite unattractive.
I hope someone more educated than me will chime in to let us know why so many buildings were designed with the U-shaped footprint. My hunch is that the designers wanted every office to have an outside window to let in as much natural light as possible.
Mike Crowder
Chattanooga