Wells Fargo Signs 50 West Tower in San Jose
Wells Fargo has installed its name on both sides of the roof of the downtown San Jose office tower at 50 West San Fernando St.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Commercial
Wells Fargo has completed installation of its sign on two sides of the roof section of the 50 West San Fernando St. office tower in downtown San Jose. The bank's name replaces a KQED sign that had been on the roof since 2016.
Why it matters
The signage change reflects a shift in tenancy in one of downtown San Jose's prominent commercial buildings. It also follows KQED's 2024 closure of its ground-floor office in the tower due to budget cuts.
The 50 West tower is a 357,000-square-foot office building that Jay Paul Co. acquired in 2019 for $230 million. Newmark is handling leasing in the building, and the extraction does not disclose Wells Fargo's lease size or terms.
The players
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is a major American multinational financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, with a large retail banking presence across the United States.
Jay Paul Co.
Jay Paul Co. is a Bay Area real estate development and investment firm that owns several commercial properties in San Jose.
The details
Wells Fargo's signs now appear on two sides of the tower's roof, replacing the KQED sign that had been in place since 2016. The bank's offices and branch in the building were relocated from the Cityview Plaza complex on South Market Street, also owned by Jay Paul Co. Poppy & Claro, a restaurant, now occupies the ground-floor space once used by KQED's broadcast office.
Timeline
2012: KQED moved its Silicon Valley office into the high-rise.
2016: KQED sign was placed on the tower roof.
2019: Jay Paul Co. bought the 50 West tower for $230 million.
2024: KQED shut its San Jose ground-floor office due to budget cuts.
November 10, 2026: Wells Fargo sign installation was completed on both sides of the tower.
Market Landscape
KQED's 2024 closure of its San Jose ground-floor office amid budget cuts left the tower's street-level space to be filled by Poppy & Claro, while Wells Fargo's rooftop signage now marks a new major tenant in the building.
Downtown San Jose office tenants and visitors will see Wells Fargo's name on the 50 West tower's roof. Those seeking commercial space in the building should contact Newmark, which is handling leasing there.
The takeaway
Changes in tenancy often show up first in a building's exterior signage, offering a visible marker of shifts in downtown commercial demand. Watching who fills vacated ground-floor and rooftop space can signal the health of a district's office market.
Further reading
For more on downtown leasing trends, see Commercial coverage for San Jose.
Source note: This article includes information reported by East Bay Times.
