Perched adjacent to Wayne State College in Wayne Nebraska, the State Nebraska Bank, Campus Branch is not the typical office building. The CEO, Matthew Ley, approached the project with a unique vision to combine their drive through banking facility, which had previously existed on the site, with speculative office space and a sports court. While an unusual program for a 15,300 SF facility, the central anchor of the building is designed to act as a catalyst for the community, attracting both customers of the bank and students from the nearby college.
The bank, which has been in business for 130 years, is heavily invested in the community and dedicated to quality architecture and creating a sense of place with its buildings.
Main Lobby
One enters the building below a floating canopy suspended in a wall of glass which connects the interior space to the college’s wooded amphitheater to the northeast. Though it is set in a residential neighborhood along a busy highway, this visual connection creates a parklike setting for the users. The central lobby is visually connected to the sports court and drive through bank center creating a dynamic connection. The north and south wings of the second-floor tenant spaces are linked with a floating catwalk which also serve as a viewing platform for passing spectators.
Entrance Lobby
Mass Timber Structure
The central portion of the building showcases the entry lobby and sport court is structured using glu-lam beams and columns. A novel product, mass timber glu-laminated decking, creates both the interior finished ceiling and roof structural decking.
Sourced through a local company that traditionally specializes in barn construction, this project serves as a case study in their expansion into the commercial mass timber market.
Despite being located in a small town of < 6,000, the client was successful in sourcing many of the materials and contractors locally.
Sport Court
Community focused business and building
The small banking center offers both in person and drive through services for its customers. The lobby is visually connected to the sports court and all community members are welcome to swing by and play a round of basketball or pickle ball.
The 130 year community presence of the bank extends to funding farmers, residents, college students, and brining new industry and jobs into the small town. As so many towns of this size are struggling to survive, this bank has had an active role in keeping the town alive and thriving.
The architecture and interior design of the building celebrates the success and hospitality the bank offers to the community.
State Nebraska Bank, Lobby
Built to “stick around”
Sustainability was a significant concern for the client not only on principle, but because they wanted to create a building worthy of sticking around for another 130 years.
All speculative offices have nearly 10’ floor to ceiling windows which allow enough natural light during the day to make artificial lighting unnecessary.
The mechanical system chosen was a high efficiency VRF system which allows a greater number of zones and controls for each tenant. Continuous insulation was used at all exterior walls to reduce thermal bridging. Bronze tinted glazing exceeded the minimum U value required by code. Exterior brick was selected for longevity and a lighter color was used to reduce the cooling load on the building. LOW or no VOC products were specified to promote indoor air quality.
Tenant Space, 2nd Floor
