Project Showcase: HTG + 1st Bank + Trust

Introduction:

We love partnering with design, architecture, and engineering firms on their projects and appreciate learning about their experience with it. Today we want to showcase our email interview with HTG Architects about their project at 1st Bank + Trust.

Please introduce yourself.

Hey, I’m Kyle Pederson, a Managing Principal and registered architect at HTG Architects. I personally love projects like First Bank & Trust, with unique design challenges requiring a collaborative approach, problem-solving, and creative thinking. Highly customized or specialized projects keep me constantly learning; no two days are the same. Out of the office, I focus my time with my wife and two kids. Together, we enjoy family walks, bike rides, meals at local restaurants, and as much lake time as we can during the summer. On my own time, I continue to play hockey in a handful of adult and local leagues.

How were you chosen for the project?

Our team is specialized for banks and financial projects and has completed nearly 3,000 to date so this project really played to our team’s strengths to deliver a thoughtful and effective design solution. HTG Architects is very invested (no pun intended) in the financial and banking world, is a member and sponsor of a variety of financial networks and associations which keeps our team current on trends and mainstays in the industry generally as well as regionally. HTG has a past history working with People’s Bank of Commerce. First Bank & Trust is based in Brookings, SD and has only recently branched into MN by way of acquisition of People’s Bank of Commerce. HTG was the natural choice when Brookings leadership leaned on their local bank executives in MN for their development and project management team. We’re partnership-minded and take a lot of pride when we see past work and prior connections bear new fruit with new opportunities such as this.

What were the main objectives of the project?

This project is a new construction replacement of an existing, poorly designed Edina location with limited visibility and access. The new facility was planned to become a regional flagship for the bank with expanded financial services and upgraded client experience. This is First Bank & Trust’s premier location in the metro area for business banking, lending, wealth management, as well as retail banking. This also serves as a training hub supporting the rest of the branch network across the metro area (the former Peoples Bank of Commerce locations).

What was a highlight or two of the project?

Having the right project team is really what made this a success. With an aggressive project schedule, restrictive local zoning requirements, and a tall order for the project design, it was critical to have a team of problem solvers invested in the big picture. The leadership at the bank was fantastic to work with, our partnership with the general contractor could not have gone smoother, and the detailed coordination with DAVIS and other vendors, suppliers, and contractors made this challenging project something that we could all celebrate together as a big win throughout this massive team effort.

What was a challenge you experienced during the project?

More and more cities are adding zoning restrictions on drive-up facilities. Some cities are banning them outright. A bank drive-up was not an approved zoning use for this project location. In a post-covid era, this is a major topic for banks, restaurants, and other organizations that were completely dependent upon drive-up functionality to operate during the peak of pandemic lockdowns. A drive-up lane was a must for this project. We ultimately developed a concept where, instead of designing a traditional lane circulating the building with a canopy and a teller window, we brought the drive lane inboard of the building structure. Vehicles would now drive through the building interior to use the drive-up window and exit again on the far side, functioning more like an indoor parking garage than a traditional drive-up. This enabled drive-up functionality while completely shielding it from outside view. As an interior building element, the lane itself becomes subject to the requirements of the building code separate from the site zoning requirements. The building code allows for such functionality (again, similar to a parking garage or ramp). This creative solution helped secure approval for not 1 but 2 drive-up lanes which now make up 50% of the floor space on the main level of the building and enable customer access to financial services 24/7, an absolute game changer for this project.

What lighting did you choose and why?

DAVIS team can probably go back and find specific fixtures used in this job, but quick overview of key elements:

There are 10 large architectural ‘fin’ structures that add unique design character to the building exterior and are designed as an abstraction of the bank’s “1F” logo. These are a feature element designed to add brand presence and recognizability to the building design. Showcasing the brand day and night became important, so a creative lighting solution was developed in partnership with the Davis team. The flat white metal panel surfaces of the fins needed to be externally lit top and bottom to create a striking wall wash glow focused on the ‘fin’ features. Turned out super cool.

We also included some cool uplighting features on the exterior to accentuate some large natural stone openings near the main entry as well as to upplight and illuminate the signage tower.

The grand, two-story volume of the main entry vestibule was an opportunity introduce an interior lighting feature. We played off the verticality of the space and incorporated some varying width and varying height randomized install vertical ‘flutes’. The bank and its customers have commented that this lighting feature adds a great glow to the space – on stormy/overcast days, they’ve said they glance towards to vestibule and think “oh wow, the sun is out!” before they realize it’s just the glow of the lighting feature. It gives a really cool daylight effect making for a unique space. General office lighting is clean, sleek, and minimalist balancing quality lighting with simplicity.

Were there any specific needs in lighting?

Mostly covered above. Lighting at the bank drive-up is also critical. We always want to hit specific lumen output requirements keeping the space bright for security purposes, avoiding shadows and obscure corners, while still keeping it inviting and user friendly. Positioning of the lighting is intentional to keep the illumination focused on the faces of drivers (not necessarily just centered in the space) also for security purposes so the bank’s surveillance cameras can clearly read faces and license plates.

Are any other people or companies you want to give a shout-out to?

BJ Baas Builders out of Cambridge was our General Contractor. They knocked this one out of the park. Big shoutout for that group keeping coordination seamless and getting ahead of the usual challenges of construction. Nelson-Rudie was our engineering partner for structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems. Westwood Professional Services handled civil engineering and landscape architecture.

Anything else you want to say about the project?

There were other unique features of the project.

The interior design includes a ton of full height frameless glass – this was used at all office fronts and conference rooms. Daylight basically permeates the full building interior with no dark corridors through the center which is a common frustration with similar office type buildings. Lots of daylight.

Sustainability was another emphasis of the project, partially due to location and expectations of the community but also as a means of keeping life cycle and operating costs down. The building has a high-efficiency mechanical system, solar low-e window glazing, 5% of parking is dedicated for EV charging stations, bike racks and employee showers enabling 0 emission commute options for staff, accessible via public transit, roof design allowing for future photovoltaic panel install, upgraded insulation and building envelope, preservation of existing trees and adding new, native, pollinator friendly landscaping throughout and increasing tree canopy coverage to nearly 50% of the project site. This was all accomplished at minimal additional cost to the project overall and in some instances, resulted in net savings.

Would you provide a brief testimony of your experience working with DAVIS?

Awesome. Tony was my first phone call when planning the lighting design and then again when the bidding phase ensued and project cost became a concern. In both instances, the DAVIS team was able to provide recommendations and insights for quality lighting design as well as best value. The design team leaned heavily on their input, especially for our specialty lighting features, as well as keeping the general office lighting economical and functional. In all instances, DAVIS delivered top-notch solutions and complete coordination.