Project permits have been filed to convert the Bank of Italy office tower into housing at 12 South 1st Street in Downtown San Jose, Santa Clara County. The plans would bring new life to the historic tower as the region deals with high office vacancy rates. RMW Architecture is the project applicant.
Bank of Italy Tower residential conversion annex building, rendering by Bjarke Ingels Group
Urban Community and Westbank are jointly responsible for the development. The team has been working together for several years now on various dense office and housing towers across Downtown San Jose. Demolition started for Park Habitat at 180 Park Avenue in the Summer of 2022, but work was paused due to an archeological discovery and never restarted. Dillabough of Urban Community told a group that construction is expected to start sometime in the first half of the year for 409 South Second Street.
The permits describe a conversion that will bring housing to levels two through twelve of the 13-story tower. New windows will be installed with fixed upper panes and operable lower panes. The ground level will be refurbished to serve as a residential lobby, with amenities centralized on the second floor. The residential capacity has yet to be established, but previous reports estimated it is between 125 and 150 units.
Bank of Italy Tower residential conversion isometric view, rendering by Bjarke Ingels Group
RMW and Bjarke Ingels Group are jointly responsible for the architecture. Illustrations show that BIG and RMW will leave the historic structure’s facade mostly unchanged. An annex structure will be reskinned with rooftop decks.
The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be established.
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When I was growing up in San José decades ago my uncle had his law office in the BofA building as it was known then.)
From our living room window we could see the tower at the top of the building.
Exciting!
My family moved to San José in 1963. I was always fascinated by great urban architecture and decided that the Bank of Italy building was my favorite. I’m happy to see that it’s still standing and will be thoughtfully repurposed.