documenting louis sullivan-designed interior and exterior peoples savings bank ornament

LOUIS H. SULLIVAN'S OWATONNA BANK: A BUILDING BURSTING WITH ORNAMENT

the exterior textured bricks were produced in 15 different shades to produce what sullivan described as the effect of an "oriental rug." the ornamental textured and polychromed terra cotta ornament (limited in use to reduce building costs) was modeled by kristian schneider for the american terra cotta company. the interior art glass window were done by louis millet.
it was a real treat to have thunderstorms park over clinton, cedar rapids, and grinnell the entire time i shot buildings.

the initial design for the bank was completed in the summer of 1909, but was rejected by the board as being too expensive. the following year his cedar rapids clients, lead by the bank’s vice-president, fred shaver, continued negotiations with him and an agreement was struck. sullivan began this study of the bank and its function beginning with the large banking room. he reduced the cost of the structure by limiting the amount of exterior terra cotta ornamentation. the building was completed in 1912.

the building’s exterior bricks were fabricated in fifteen different shades of color, producing, as sullivan remarked as the, "effect of an antique oriental rug." the interior includes clerestory walls of richly colored art glass with murals by allen philbrick depicting life in rural iowa.

this would be the last bank and commission that sullivan’s long time chief draftsman george elmslie assisted on. shortly after its completion elmslie joined the minneapolis partnership of purcell & feick, the new firm being named purcell, feick & elmslie.