The Falks ID building, formerly located at the corner of 8th & Main in downtown Boise. Originally built in 1904 by Tourtellotte & Co. for Falk Merchantile Co. By 1954, postwar attitudes about architecture and shopping viewed the turn of the century building as old-fashioned with its bay windows, ornate carvings, and stonework façade.

Postwar architecture was about using new, shiny materials like aluminum and chrome. “The material qualities of building facades, in particular, relied heavily on metals as the relationship between structure and skin evolved in the period after World War II…. Metals were selected not only because they met specific performance criteria and characteristics but also because they conveyed newness, celebrated industrialization, and even highlighted their specific qualities for poetic effect.” To convey that Falks, Idaho’s Department Store was as modern as the larger downtown chains, the store hired Hummel, Hummel, and Jones to remodel the original building.

Scaffolding was installed and decorated with graphic acrobats “climbing” up the metal supports, advertising “Falks Remodeling Carnival”. In 1955, the store was unveiled with a streamlined aluminum façade. Large glass windows welcomed shoppers with new displays and generous entrances.

Hummel continued to work in the building, including some ceiling work in November 1962 that didn’t prevent Christmas shopping to continue to occur below the workers and scaffolding (see photo).

The store remained as a downtown staple until the 1980s. Falks had closed the downtown location, and the Boise Redevelopment Agency purchased the building intending to tear it down to build a parking garage in its place. The damage to the original façade was extensive and prevented the building from obtaining National Register of Historic Places protection. The building was demolished in January 1988.

(sources: docomomo-us.org, “Aluminum Finishes in Postwar Architecture” by Thomas C. Jester, AIA, FAPT, LEED AP)