First Trust Building and Garage, building in California, United States of America
The First Trust Building and Garage is a structure in Pasadena, California, built in 1927 in Mediterranean Revival style combined with Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts elements. It features decorative stonework on its exterior, a red tile hip roof, and a small cupola on top, with murals inside depicting scenes from around Pasadena.
The building was designed in 1927 by architects Cyril Bennett and Fitch Haskell and constructed with an earthquake-resistant support system of steel beams and concrete engineered by Caltech professor R. R. Martel. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and remains one of Pasadena's most significant historic structures.
The building's name comes from its original function as a bank serving the local community. Its Mediterranean style with arches and red tile roof created a distinctive look that set it apart from more modern structures and conveyed both elegance and permanence to residents.
The building is located on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena and is easily accessible on foot as part of a busy street lined with shops and cafes. Visitors can walk by and view the exterior details from the street, particularly noticing the decorative stonework and red tile roof.
The building features an innovative earthquake-resistant support system of steel beams and concrete developed by a Caltech professor that became a model for other structures. This structural advancement remains embedded in the building's foundations and was considered pioneering for its time.
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