Bank of California

1. 1867

   The Bank of California — founded in 1864 by D. O. Mills and William C. Ralston, the oldest incorporated commercial bank in the state — put up its first head office on this site in 1867; it was demolished early in 1906, before the fire, to make way for the present building.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
2. August 30, 1906

   Mahony Bros. contracted to put up the Bank of California, at $441,200.

   The San Francisco Call, 30 August 1906, p. 11
3. 1907

   The Bank of California’s banking temple was built here to designs by Bliss & Faville.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
4. August 15, 1907

   Mahoney Brothers contracted for granite, cornice and parapet wall on the Bank of California, at $43,200.

   The San Francisco Call, 15 August 1907, p. 14
5. January 29, 1908

   Beach-Robinson company contracted for mahogany furniture on the Bank of California for the Bank of California.

   The San Francisco Call, 29 January 1908, p. 13
6. July 6, 1954

   Photographed, showing the Bank of California.

   San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection (SFP 162), San Francisco Public Library
7. August 26, 1964

   Photographed, showing the Bank of California.

   San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection (SFP 162), San Francisco Public Library
8. 1967

   Bank of California Tower, designed by Anshen + Allen.

   Architecture, Planning & Preservation Professionals: A Collection of Biographies, adopted 2021
9. January 5, 1967

   Photographed, showing the Bank of California.

   San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection (SFP 162), San Francisco Public Library
10. 1968

    Designated San Francisco Landmark No. 3, Bank of California.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
11. 1984

    Known as the Bank of California; it was among the rated buildings of the city's Downtown Plan inventory.

    San Francisco Department of City Planning, The Downtown Plan: Environmental Impact Report, Draft, 1984.
12. Sep 1984

    Permit 8410268 $$$ $500,000

    Replacement of concrete ribs on the exterior of the building.

13. Sep 1990

    Permit 9019259 $$$ $500,000

    Tenant alteration of 6/f drywall partitions, acoustical ceng.

14. Jan 1998

    Permit 9801008 $$$ $450,000

    Oti-1 17th floor el me l/s sp.

15. Sep 1998

    Permit 9819817 $$$ $37,500

    Oti-1 el, me, ls, sp, 13th floor.

16. Jul 2000

    Permit 200007245961 $$$ $500,000

    One stop-, tenant improvement to 12th fl. install new offices in same area upgrade toilet f/acc.

17. Dec 2001

    Permit 200112125044 $$$ $2,100,000

    Provide t/i for 18th & 19/f per plans includd mechanical electrical & plumbing.

18. May 2003

    Permit 200305205100 $$$ $500,000

    New interior shell space @9th fl. partition, ceiling, ele, mechanical.plum, newcompliant restrms/finishes.

19. Aug 2005

    Permit 200508220830 $$$ $650,000

    Oti-1, 7th floor, el, me, ls, sp.

20. Aug 2008

    Permit 200808189401 $$$ $2,750,000

    Replacement of existing chiller and associate mechanical and electrical equipment.

21. May 2010

    Permit 201005142478 $$$ $250,000

    Fire alarm retrofit for entire building.

22. Apr 2011

    Permit 201104184276 $$$ $610,875

    Basement 1 & ground level - leed ci tenant improvement. demolish all non-structural partitions, suspended ceiling, finishes, electrical, mechanical, & plumbing, replace with new on b1 level. install new mechanical sys on ground fl lobby.

23. Nov 2011

    Permit 201111108727 $$$ $400,000

    Tenant improvement to existing office space. remodel existing restrooms to accomodate disabled access in the 14th and 16th floors. alteration to existing elevator lobby on the 14th floor to accomodate disabled access.

24. Aug 2012

    Permit 201208076753 $$$ $4,000,000

    20th & 21st fl-demolition ofexistingcooling towers&concrete supports. demolition concrete roof.relocate exhaust fans.install new cooling towers&piping.electrical wk associated with c.t &fan installation. new building maintenance unit.install new steel equip platform.no ada wk.alarm&sprinkler defered permit.

25. Sep 2012

    Permit 201209240508 $$$ $1,220,800

    Tenant improvement on the 15th fl including demolition, drywall, millwork, finishes, electric and mechanical. all doors and office fronts by dirh systems under separate permit.

26. Feb 2013

    Permit 201302200491 $$$ $363,500

    Office t.i. of empty shell space on b.1 level. minor electrical for new furniture and lighting. minor hvac connecting to existing system inside space.

27. Jun 2014

    Permit 201406138340 $$$ $1,800,000

    Installation of new 20th floor mechanical platform and screen and 1st floor fluid oil pump room in preparation for installation of new emergency standy generator under separate permit; install new transformer on 8th floor.ups room; compliance with ord 155-13 not required.

28. Apr 2018

    Permit 201804237048 $$$ $2,500,000

    Voluntary seismic strengthening: selective removal and replacement of structural walls, framing, etc. **n/a for maher**.

29. Apr 2018

    Permit 201804247160 $$$ $670,800

    Architectural/landscape of removal and replacement of non-structural partitions, ceilings, architectural finishes, landscape(as required) to accomodate voluntary seismic strengthening. mep seperate permit.**maher n/a** n.b. see 2018-0423-7048 for structural aspects. roof occ load 307.

30. Oct 2018

    Issued Permit 201810112890 $$$ $300,000

    Mechanical, electrical and plumbing removal and replacement of mechanical and electrical distribution and lighting as required to accommodate voluntary seismic stregthening under sep permit 201804242160.

DBI holds 322 permits for this parcel, most of them tenant improvements on individual floors. The timeline shows the 24 largest by stated cost, plus the earliest on file; the DBI query in the sources below returns all 322. 20 of them are nominal $1 street-space or sidewalk permits. 6 expired or cancelled permits are not shown. The assessor's roll gives 1907; the city's statement on Progressive Era and early revival styles gives 1906-1908. The environmental review's inventory files this building under assessor block 241; the address it prints resolves to parcel 0239003, on block 0239.