Levien, Maurice B. with Rhatigan, Richard T. | Bronze Plaque for Banks | Significantly Altered | Douglaston | Bank | 1965 | Situated on the upper deck of a two-tiered shopping center, originally the building had a range of facade materials including pine log stone or pinola (a common veneer stone), white glazed brick, aluminum windows, and fieldstone details. Today the structure holds a Burger King restaurant and is completely unrecognizable from its days as a bank. There is a small area of pinola along the base of the building by the entrance which could be remnant of the previous design.
Soper, Dudley E. | Bronze Plaque for Banks | Extant | Kew Gardens | Bank | 1963 | The former Hamburg Savings Bank exists across from Queens Borough Hall, part of a row of commercial establishments. The small building is wedged into a small through-block site and incorporates parking at the rear. The decorative exterior includes aluminum windows, Italian ceramic tile spandrels, blue glazed brick and tan brick, and white marble. Four floors of banking sit within this diminutive site. Hamburg Savings Bank merged long ago and its successor Capital One now resides here.
Heller, Simeon with Meltzer, George J. | Bronze Plaque for Rehabilitations and Alterations | Significantly Altered | Jamaica | Bank | 1963 | Not the only Queens Modern winner to be converted into a discount store, this former bank branch is now largely obscured by awnings and unfortunate painting over of much of the Regal Blue and Alabama White marble on the front facade. Passerby can mostly identify the building by the still prominent flagpoles at the roofline and the metal grill above the door. The interior had teak paneling (now gone) and an acoustic tile ceiling with recessed lighting, which is still visible in the commercial space. This project won an award as a combining and rehabilitation of two existing buildings and not as a new structure.
Shreve Lamb and Harmon Associates | Bronze Plaque for Banks | Extant | Jackson Heights | Bank | 1963 | This low-rise bank was built to fit into the surrounding residential neighborhood, but its design is distinctly mid-century. Sitting on a corner lot, the building is oriented to the street with an elliptical glass and metal window bay surrounded by entrance areas clad in white brick. The drive-thru teller stations exist behind the building.
Shenton, William L. | Honorable Mention | Extant | Maspeth | Bank | 1962 | This bank branch is a one story structure with a flat projecting roof. The exterior incorporates full height windows, yellow brick, and dark marble cladding at one corner and on a vertical column that separates the banking space with the back offices. The building is set back from the street and surrounded by off street-parking. The architect worked in-house for First National City Bank’s Premises Department.
