Our charge was to take an inward focused, dated building that had been vacant for 8 years and create a new banking center that would provide an inviting, urban space that people would want to visit. While the existing building was constructed of quality materials, it lacked a sense of character. The client, a trusted financial institution, wanted to create a presence in the vibrant downtown business district worthy of their reputation.
A new, dynamic frosted glass entrance canopy, scaled to the pedestrian, was designed to appear as if it had always been there. A high-end lobby space was created of glass, metal, wood, & granite. The ceiling height was raised with alternating planes of wood, metal, & gypsum to align the existing entrance with an offset elevator core. The multiple planes also hide light sources, giving a sense of natural light filling the Lobby, drawing the outside in. By using glass partitions that lock off the bank spaces after hours, the other tenants still have access to beautiful lobby space, giving them a sense of ownership. Since opening, the Capitol Banking Center is the company’s best-performing branch. Because of the success of the project, 90% of the building is occupied, and two well known company’s headquarters have relocated to the building.
