Walker Center, Bank building in downtown Salt Lake City, United States.
The Walker Center is a skyscraper in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, designed by the St. Louis firm Eames and Young in the Chicago school style. Opened on December 9, 1912, it was built as the headquarters of Walker Bank, founded in 1859 by the Walker brothers. Its basement once held the bank vault along with a barbershop, florist and cigar store, while the bank occupied the main floor and offices filled the upper floors.
The Walker Center opened on December 9, 1912, after a little over a year of construction, as the headquarters of Walker Bank, founded in Salt Lake City in 1859 by the Walker brothers. The St. Louis firm Eames and Young designed it in the Chicago school style. Walker Bank remained headquartered there until a 1981 merger with First Interstate Bancorp, which merged with Wells Fargo in 1996.
The weather tower on the roof began as a local radio station's installation in the 1940s. Its lights forecast the weather: solid blue for clear skies, flashing blue for clouds, solid red for rain and flashing red for snow. Residents remember it with a rhyme: "Solid blue: skies are too, flashing blue: clouds are due, solid red: rain ahead, flashing red: snow instead."
The building is located in the south downtown area and is easily accessible on foot. Today it continues to function as commercial space while maintaining its original architectural features.
The 64-foot weather tower on the roof was installed by a local radio station in the 1940s. Removed in the 1980s under a city ordinance, it was replaced in 2008, and in December 2021 its neon tubes were upgraded to LED, allowing any colour and animation effects.
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