American National Bank Building, built 1909

505 State Avenue

"Before" Photographs
Courtesy of Zink & Associates, Inc.

Staining from moisture entry and dirt accumulations detracted from the beauty of the yellow brick
of the 1909 arcaded block building.

Apparent sandblasting attempts to remove dirt only served to damage the brick surface, leaving “scars” evident here in 2000. Dirt had accumulated further in the porous surface created by the sandblasting.

American National Bank
Exterior Restoration
SHF GRANT PROJECT, 2002-3

Funded in part by the Colorado Historical Society State Historical Fund (SHF), the American National Bank Building underwent exterior restoration in 2002-3 based on the 2001 Historic Structure Assessment conducted by preservation architect Belinda Zink. The assessment was also funded by the SHF.

The $132,989 project included design, masonry cleaning and restoration, window repair and painting, re-roof, electrical panel upgrade, and a new boiler. The State Historical Fund awarded $99,989 to the project.

“After” Photographs

Thanks to a gentle but thorough power wash using soapy water, the glow of the original yellow brick was restored. Previously the building looked to be a dirty, dull beige. After testing the paint at a few locations, the original color of the window frames and sills was restored.

The building’s fresh appearance post-cleaning and restoration adds to downtown’s attractiveness to business and tourism. The defining features of the brickwork—including its warm, yellow tone and darker yellow keystone bricks—emerged from under decades of accumulated dirt.