Editing Paul Philippe Cret (section)

== Federal Reserve Bank ==

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (1935) shows Cret adapting classical principles to Depression-era conditions and emerging modernist aesthetics. The building's stripped classicism—classical organization without elaborate ornament—represents Cret's evolution toward simplified expression that addressed both economic constraints and changing taste. Marble facades, carefully proportioned, achieve dignity through material quality and scale rather than decorative elaboration. The design influenced subsequent federal architecture, demonstrating that classicism could address modern requirements without abandoning traditional principles.<ref name="tatum"/>

The Federal Reserve building demonstrated Cret's ability to work at institutional scale while maintaining the refinement that characterized his smaller projects. Banking halls and office spaces serve functional requirements while achieving architectural quality appropriate to institutional purpose. The building's survival and continued use document Cret's ability to create architecture that remains viable decades after completion.<ref name="grossman"/>