[1] The five-storey Juan Luna Building was designed by American architects Murphy, McGill and Hamlin of New York City and Shanghai, and was completed at a cost of two million pesos.

The building derived its design from the trademark architectural features set by the International Banking Corporation of New York for its overseas branches.

The bank's prototype was made up of a row of colossal columns in antis, which was faithfully reproduced for its Manila headquarters.

Above the ground floor were six three-storey high, engaged Ionic columns, ending in an entablature topped by a cornice.

These six columns dominating the south and west facades were, in turn, flanked by a pair of pilasters on both fronts.