Centennial National Bank
The Centennial National Bank building sits at 3140-42 Market Street in Philadelphia. Built in 1876 and designed by Frank Furness in a Venetian Gothic style, it served as the headquarters of the Centennial National Bank, which funded parts of Philadelphia’s participation in the Centennial Exposition—the first World’s Fair held in North America to mark the 100th anniversary of American independence.
The bank opened in January 1876, shortly before the building was completed. Clarence Howard Clark, Sr., a local financier, hired Furness to design the headquarters. The corner entrance faces Lancaster Avenue to align with sightlines toward the Exhibition grounds, and the bank operated a branch on the fairgrounds to handle tickets and currency.
For decades it was the only national bank in West Philadelphia. In 1956 the building became the Centennial Branch of First Pennsylvania Bank, and it was vacated by the bank by 1971. Drexel University bought the building around the Bicentennial (mid-1970s) and used it for offices before converting it into the Paul Peck Alumni Center, opened after a 2000–2002 renovation that added gallery space and meeting rooms.
Architecturally, the building is a landmark for Furness’s developing style. It features red brick with black brick bands, brown sandstone trim, and decorative glass tile work in a distinctive gable area. Furness even invented a process to create the colorful “brilliant glass tiles” used in the facade. The exterior retains much of its original character, though it was simplified in 1956 when the interior was split into two floors.
The building has been recognized for its significance: it was listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. A 2000–02 renovation at a cost of about $4 million transformed it into a modern alumni center while preserving its historic character.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:53 (CET).