First Federal Savings and Loan Association Building

First Federal Savings and Loan Association

Company type	Savings and loan association
Industry	Financial services
Founded	December 1933
Headquarters	Davenport , United States
Products	Residential construction financing

The First Federal Savings and Loan Association Building stands as a notable historic edifice located in Downtown Davenport, Iowa. In 2016, it gained recognition by being added to both the Davenport Register of Historic Properties and the National Register of Historic Places. Subsequently, in 2020, it was designated as a contributing property within the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District.

History

Established in December 1933, First Federal Savings and Loan Association endured through the challenges of the Great Depression. Initially leasing the Lane Building in 1936, the association acquired ownership of the property three years later in 1939. Its operating budget expanded significantly from $5,487 in 1935 to $287,776 by 1941, while assets grew from $14.8 million in 1947 to $53.5 million by 1959. The institution primarily concentrated on financing new residential construction and played a key role in supporting Davenport’s mid-century development. By the time their new building was completed in 1966, First Federal had become the largest Savings and loan association serving eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

The building’s design was crafted by William F. Cann of the Bank Building and Equipment Corp., based in St. Louis. This three-story structure, exemplifying the Modern movement, replaced the association’s earlier facility on the same location. It is recognized as one of Davenport’s pioneering and architecturally important modern constructions. In 1968, First Federal expanded its presence by opening its inaugural branch on Davenport’s north side.

Following a reorganization in 1993, First Federal Savings Bank was created and subsequently merged with Mercantile Bank two years later. Mercantile moved its downtown headquarters in 1997, prompting the building’s transformation into office space until it was vacated in 2015. Later, this property was combined with the neighboring First Midwest building to form an urban campus for Scott Community College. The renovation for this campus was designed by Saratoga Capital Group from St. Louis and completed in time for classes commencing January 2018.

Architecture

Constructed with reinforced concrete, the building is faced with white Vermont marble, representing a departure from transparent “glass box” architectural styles toward an emphasis on solidity, form, and masonry exterior finishes. A unique original element included a drive-through window that enabled customers to enter from Main Street and exit onto West Third Street. This internal drive-through was removed during renovations in 1975 and replaced with a new facility on the building’s east side. The mezzanine within the former financial services area was removed in 2002 to provide additional office space. During its conversion into a college facility in 2018, while interior spaces were reconfigured—drawing inspiration from the Learning Commons at the University of Iowa—the exterior marble facade remained preserved.