Have you ever heard of a building designed specifically for a bank? The Drexel Building right here was once the powerful headquarters of Drexel and Company. Completed in 1927, this grand structure on South 15th Street wasn’t just a place to stash your cash. It was a symbol of financial might, designed in the Renaissance Palazzo style to reflect the bank’s prominent stature. The architects, Day & Klauder, really went all out. They used ashlar granite for the facade and added ornate details like a rounded entrance portal, carved shields, and even wrought iron lamps. But the real showstoppers are the low relief zodiac roundels. Take a closer look, can you identify all twelve signs? Sadly, the Drexel and Company reign didn’t last forever. The bank dissolved in the 1930s, a casualty of the Great Depression. But the Drexel Building survived. It was quickly adopted by another local bank and continued to serve the city’s financial needs. Today, the Drexel Building stands as a proud reminder of Philadelphia’s rich financial history. It’s a testament to the enduring nature of architecture, outlasting the very institutions it was built to represent.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to