The Modernist Poudre Valley National Bank
Fort Collins is well known for its historic downtown commercial district and beautiful nineteenth-century residences, but our city is also home to sleek, modernist-style buildings that tell an important part of our city’s more recent past. At the corner of South College and West Magnolia Streets stands an iconic mid-century, architect-designed building, known to us now as the Wells Fargo building. Although subject to some changes over the past fifty years, the building remains an excellent example of post-World War II architectural design.
Known to us now as the Wells Fargo Bank building, the building at 401 South College was originally constructed for the Poudre Valley National Bank in 1966. The bank was designed by James M. Hunter, a prominent architect based out of Boulder, Colorado, and constructed by Frank Johnson Construction Company of Fort Collins. For several years, Hunter had served as a planner and architect for Colorado A & M College (now Colorado State University) where he designed Allison Hall, Danforth Chapel, and the Lory Student Center; another notable Hunter design in Fort Collins is the First National Bank at West Oak and South Mason Streets.
Coloradoan, April 28, 1967
On April 28th, 1967, a large 8-page supplement to the Fort Collins Coloradoan introduced the new $1.8 million bank to city residents. The insert featured an invitation to the bank’s grand opening on April 29-30th, articles penned by the bank’s chairman and president, and a two-page history detailing the institution’s 89 years of service. Described as Fort Collins’, “finest and most modern banking facilities”, the newly constructed bank was three stories tall and relied on four steel pylons and a series of hidden cables to support the mostly glass structure. With the top story cantilevered over the lower two stories and the wide ribbons of windows, the building seemed to almost float above the ground. The pylons not only
supported the structure, they also provided space for conference rooms and stairwells and were reportedly strong enough to carry an additional seven stories, if expansion was ever needed. A bronze solar screen installed over the windows of the top story protected the offices from the sun’s harsh light and intense heat.
Inside, the centered teller area on the main floor opened to a skylight dome, two stories above. The main floor also provided office space for banking departments and the President’s office along the outer edges. The second and third floors housed the Board Room, telephone switchboard, and office space for both bank employees and other professional renters. Safe deposit facilities and the vault were located in the basement along with a community room which would be available for use by Fort Collins organizations.
Coloradoan, April 28, 1967
Coloradoan, April 28, 1967
Coloradoan, April 28, 1967
Although the new building was modern in design, it was also practical, meeting the changing needs of post-WWII customers. A parking lot at the rear of the building could accommodate space for up to 81 automobiles. Six drive-up windows and a walk-through teller lane along the west wing (now demolished) could be easily accessed from three sides of the building and allowed tellers to assist customers with their banking needs at the car window level.
In 1970, Poudre Valley National Bank rebranded as the United Bank of Fort Collins to reflect their new affiliation with the United Banks of Colorado. By 1990, the building housed Norwest Bank and by 2004, Wells Fargo. In 2022, Wells Fargo dispersed several departments from their downtown location to other locations in Fort Collins, including a new location across College Avenue near the newly opened Target. As of this writing, it is unknown whether Wells Fargo will move completely out of their historic downtown space.
