Home National and Trust & Savings Bank (Elgin Tower) (1929)

Architect W.G. Knoebel served as lead architect for the St. Louis Bank Building & Equipment Co. for this Art Deco-style landmark.  With balanced symmetry for a corner location, there is a prominent first story base and entry that is Classical Revival-influenced.  However, the combination of stacked and stepped-back massing, stone sheathing and decorative elements, and multi-paned steel sash windows pull out the feeling of Art Deco prominence.  Its style is very similar to that of the South Side National Bank of St. Louis, MO (1928) which has similar massing, form, and materials.  The Home National and Trust & Savings Bank was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.  As late as 2001, the building still employed elevator operators.  The building is known today as Elgin Tower.

South Side National Bank (1928) has many similar design elements to Home National and Trust & Savings Bank.

More Information:

The Elgin Tower Story: Saving an Art Deco Landmark by Kirk Lawler (PDF attachment)

National Register of Historic Places nomination and photos.

Photo credits: thomas.merton on flickr; Springsun on flickr; architekt2 on flickr; b24chicago on flickr; James Jordan on flickr; Seth Gaines on flickr.