Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Remaking History: Architect Bruno Marcelic recently purchased the historic Farley Building at Campbell and Central avenues. When he finishes the remodel early next year, he will move his office into the building, which was built in 1895.
Historic bank gets major remodel
Stoddard's architect Bruno Marcelic will move his office there
By Steven Raphael
There's no shame in getting a face lift at the age of 105--especially for a building. Built in 1895, the Farley building is the oldest building in downtown Campbell, according to Senior Planner Geoff Bradley. It has recently been purchased by architect Bruno Marcelic, who is renovating the building for use as his office.
"I was looking for my own office," he said. "I like this building because it has a lot of character. It has history."
Indeed, when the building was first erected at the corner of Campbell and Central, Campbell was just a small farm town that wouldn't be incorporated for more than half a century.
The building originally served as the First Bank of Campbell, according to Campbell Historical Museum Curator Melissa Johnson. She said the bank was founded by many leading citizens of Campbell, including Benjamin Campbell.
The bank moved across the street in 1911, but the building remained. For many years, it housed one Realtor after another, including its namesake, Guy Farley Realty and Insurance, who owned the building for over 40 years.
After a long string of owners, the building sat vacant for the last six months, according to redevelopment director Kirk Heinrichs.
Marcelic found a lot of work was needed to bring the building up to code. He said, by the time he is finished, he will have spent six months and approximately $50,000 improving the building, working mainly on weekends and in his spare time.
Marcelic said he's doing a lot of the renovations himself. "Anything I can do by myself, I try to do," he said. "I like working on stuff with my hands. It lets you get away and makes you feel good."
The building, which Johnson described as a simple renaissance revival building, is made of unreinforced masonry. Consequently, Marcelic needed to outfit the building to meet seismic codes.
"I'm essentially bolting the roof and ceiling to the walls and fixing the walls themselves," he said.
He said he is also replacing the floor, the windows and all the electrical wiring of the building.
For Marcelic, who designed the Stoddards brewpub building that's under construction at Campbell Avenue at Second Street, the building represents an opportunity to have an office in downtown Campbell. "I like the location," he said. "That's the main reason I wanted to buy the building."
But for Campbell, it is a historic relic that deserves to be preserved.
"I think it's critical that the Farley building be renovated," Bradley said. "It's such a high visibility location."
Bradley said Marcelic's improvements will make a huge difference to downtown Campbell.
The tall, elegantly designed brick building is currently covered in peeling, mustard-yellow paint. Marcelic plans to remove the paint, revealing the natural brick color peeking out from beneath.
"That's the way it was originally, and we want to restore it to the original brick color," he said.
Marcelic said he will repair the brick, which is falling apart. The large doors and windows, beneath graceful arches, currently look dusty and old. Marcelic plans to replace them.
Once he's added exterior lights, which were present during the building's early years, the building should look as good as new. It had better, Marcelic said, because there's not too much left for him to improve. "That's enough work right there."
Campbell, California
