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Art Beat: Chase Bank jewel box tiles by artist and architect Louis H. Sullivan.
Did you know that the Chase Bank you pass by so often on West State Street is actually a piece of architectural history?

This building, completed in 1914 and designed by architect Louis H. Sullivan, was the Purdue State Bank. It’s one of his rare “jewel box” banks, a nickname for eight small Midwestern banks known for rich ornament packed into compact buildings.

The West Lafayette bank was built on a tiny trapezoidal lot near Purdue’s campus. Its red-brick exterior is accented with earthy green glazed terra-cotta, designed by Sullivan himself.

Take a closer look at the green tiles around the entrance and windows. These custom-made terra-cotta panels feature leafy scrolls and geometric stars, stylized natural motifs that echo crops and foliage, a hallmark of Sullivan’s design style.

While the building has evolved over time, including a rear addition in the 1950s and the conversion of the original doorway into today’s ATM, the historic jewel box exterior and its ornate terra-cotta artwork remain part of our everyday streetscape.

Next time you walk by, slow down and take a closer look. Art and history are hiding in plain sight all around our City!