Helix Architects + Design
Kansas City, Missouri
After the collapse of several major financial institutions set off the global recession in 2008, 'bank' became a dirty word. But the 121-year-old Kansas City'based Missouri Bank and Trust (MO Bank) has long operated counter to today's perception of 'banking,' emphasizing its relationship with its customers, who are largely small business owners. In 2008, MO Bank set out to update its offices, which 'really didn't represent the character of the bank anymore,' says Jay Tomlinson, founding principal of Kansas City'based Helix Architecture + Design. But the bank's public image wasn't MO Bank president Grant Burcham's sole concern: 'Redesigning became really important to our internal culture, too.'
To create a more inviting look and feel in each of three offices, Helix opened up floor plans to allow tellers and customers to interact with less formality and specified furnishings and finishes in MO Bank's signature shade of green. At the Brookside branch, which is located in a dense, urban section of Kansas City, Helix added a drive-through with transparent glazing that creates greater intimacy in what are usually grab-and-dash transactions.
Missouri Bank has seen quantifiable results: 'Our deposits were up nearly 10 percent last year alone,' Burcham reports. And customers like the new look so much that more of them, says Burcham, 'park and come in anyway.'
Architect:
Helix Architecture + Design
1629 Walnut St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
P: 816.300.0300
F: 816.300.0301
Completion Date:
February 2010 (Brookside); January 2009 (Crossroads, Downtown)
Gross square footage:
5,000 square feet (Brookside); 7,500 square feet (Crossroads); 15,300 square feet (Downtown)
Total construction cost: $340,000 (Brookside) $1.9 million (Crossroads); $1.4 million (Downtown)
PeopleOwner: Grant Burcham | Missouri Bank and Trust Architect: Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Architect of record: General contractor: Haren Laughlin Missouri Bank – BrooksideInterior designer: Collaborating Artist: Archie Scott Gobber Collaborating Architect: El Dorado, Inc. (furniture design and fabrication) Engineer(s): Electrical Engineer: Lankford and Associates Photographer(s): Missouri Bank – CrossroadsInterior designer: Engineer(s): Structural Engineer: Structural Engineering Associates Electrical Engineer: Sys-Tek Civil Engineer: Taliaferro & Browne Geotechnical Engineer: Terracon Consultant(s): Recycled materials sourcing: Adam Jones Photographer(s): Missouri Bank - DowntownInterior designer: Engineer(s): Structural Engineer: Structural Engineering Associates Electrical Engineer: Sys-Tek Consultant(s): Photographer(s): |
ProductsMissouri Bank – BrooksideExterior cladding Glazing Doors Suspension grid: Acoustical ceiling grid: Chicago Metallic Paints and stains: Kwal Paint Floor and wall tile: Wall tile: Daltile Carpet: Interface FLOR Furnishings Chairs: Stools and chairs: Allsteel Inc.; Luxe chair Love seat: American Leather Missouri Bank – CrossroadsExterior cladding Concrete parking bumpers refurbished for reuse: Haren Laughlin Construction; Concrete counter top aggregate: PIA Designs Roofing Windows Glazing Skylights: SunGlo Doors Wood doors: Eggers Industries; Custom cypress wood doors and frames milled from material salvaged from Speas Vinegar holding tanks (staves), Kansas City, Mo.: Adam Jones Sliding doors: Sliding freight door salvaged from building at 1229 Union Interior finishes Wall tile: Daltile Raised flooring: Special interior finishes unique to this project: Pine wood flooring milled from material salvaged from a barn in Polo, Mo.: Adam Jones Furnishings Missouri Bank - DowntownGlazing Interior finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Walnut and Back Painted Glass, Painted MDF and Corian Countertop, by Square One Studio Carpet: MFG: Bentley Prince Street, Style: Iconic Broadloom Furnishings Chairs: Lighting |
