Guardian Building

Owner: Lowertown Acquisitions
Location: St. Paul, MN
Type: Commercial
Project Description:

• Tuckpointing
• Parapet Rebuilding
• Re-Caulking
• Acid Washing

Year Completed: 2018
Architect: AWH Architects

(Previously known as: Merchants National Bank, McColl Building, and Brooks Building – 366 Jackson St.)

One might notice that this structure looks much different than many of the other buildings in Lowertown. The main reason this Richardsonian Romanesque styled building is unusual looking is that it is made almost entirely of Portage Entry brownstone and has detailed acanthus leaf carvings. The building is one of the few of its style in the area, with the exception of the James J. Hill house. It was constructed by Edward P. Bassford in 1890 and opened its doors as Merchants National Bank in 1892. The two-story entry received much praise. The building is said to be the best design that Bassford ever achieved. The building is also the only survivor of the “magnificent” Jackson Street row of office buildings, as the others have since been razed. More recently, the building was threatened with demolition in 1967 due to the Jackson Street widening and Galtier Plaza, both support for the amazing structure kept the building as is.