Hibernia Bank Building (San Francisco) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hibernia Bank Building |
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(2017)
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| General information | |
| Type | bank |
| Location | 1 Jones St San Francisco, California |
| Coordinates | 37°46′53″N 122°24′52″W / 37.7812593°N 122.414381°W |
| Completed | 1892; 1906 |
| Designated: | August 2, 1981 |
| Reference #: | 130 |
The Hibernia Bank Building is a famous landmark in San Francisco, California. It was built in 1892 as the main office for the Hibernia Savings and Loan Society. This beautiful building is known for its special Beaux-Arts style.
Even after the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the building was quickly repaired. It reopened just five weeks later! After being empty for many years, the building was fully restored in 2016. Today, it is a key part of San Francisco's history and future.
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Building a Landmark
The Hibernia Savings and Loan Society started in April 1859. It was a savings bank that helped people save money. They began in a small office in San Francisco. Soon, they needed a much bigger space.
In 1892, the bank finished its new main building at 1 Jones Street. This grand building was designed by a famous architect named Albert Pissis. He used the Beaux-Arts style, which is known for being fancy and classical. People in San Francisco loved it so much they called it "The Paragon," meaning it was a perfect example of a building.
A local newspaper, the San Francisco Call, asked 20 artists which building was the "best" in the city. A huge 14 artists chose the new Hibernia Bank Building! The next best building only got 4 votes. This shows how much people admired its design. Albert Pissis even designed an addition to the building, which was finished in 1908.
Surviving the Great Earthquake
In 1906, a massive earthquake and fire hit San Francisco. Many buildings were destroyed. The Hibernia Bank Building was damaged by the fire, but it stood strong. It was one of the first buildings to be fixed after the disaster. The bank reopened its doors on May 25, 1906, just five weeks after the earthquake. This was a big deal for the city, showing that San Francisco was rebuilding quickly.
A New Chapter for the Building
The Hibernia Bank Building became an official San Francisco Landmark on August 2, 1981. This means it is a historically important building that must be protected.
The Hibernia Savings and Loan Society moved out of the building in 1985. The bank itself was later bought by other banks. For a while in the 1990s, the San Francisco Police Department used the building. They had a special task force there. But by 2000, the police moved to a new station.
After the police left, the building was empty for many years. It was bought by a real estate investor in 2008. There were ideas to turn it into a cultural arts center, but these plans did not happen. The building stayed empty for a long time.
Modern Restoration
In early 2016, the Hibernia Bank Building got a huge makeover. About $15 million was spent to restore it and make it safe from earthquakes. This big renovation brought the historic building back to life.
On May 26, 2016, a special event was held in the newly renovated building. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton hosted a fundraising event there. This showed how important and beautiful the restored building had become.
In 2017, the building was renamed "One Jones." Instead of looking for one big company to rent the whole space, the owners decided to divide it into smaller offices. This made it possible for many different businesses to use the building. The successful restoration of "One Jones" is seen as a positive step for the surrounding neighborhood, helping it to grow and improve.
