Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank commissioned DxDEMPSEY to design a prototype branch for West Scrantonthat is as innovative as their new approach to banking. In this branch, customers sit with Bank Specialists in an open and inviting space and plan their financial future together. It also includes a full-service café run by Electric City Roasting and lounge space to relax, have a cup of coffee, read and surf the internet.
Fidelity has gone green in more ways than one. Not only is their bank recycling money back into the community and teaming up with a local business, but the branch has been designed using green principles including the following: High energy efficient glass and mechanical systems, use of daylight to reduce the need for artificial lighting, recycled materials, zero VOC paint, and a "cool roof" which reflects sunlight thereby reducing cooling loads as well as Urban Heat Island effect (which raises the ambient temperature in cities and contributes to pollution).
The largely glass facade not only welcomes customers and visitors to the branch, but it also cuts down on the need for artificial lighting inside. Artificial light use is monitored by a system that automatically raises and lowers lighting levels so that only as much artificial light is used as is necessary, which is known as Daylight Harvesting. The glass itself is high energy-efficiency and much of it is frosted to diffuse the amount of direct sunlight in the branch. As the prototype branch goes from location to location, the pattern and amount offrosted glass will change according to orientation to the sun making the glass a "living facade".
All of the mechanical and electrical systems are high energy-efficiency. The building will also utilize occupancy sensors so that no lights will remain on in rooms that are not being used.
The finishes and materials in the branch are also "green". The majority of the flooring is a resilient flooring made from recycled tires. The carpet tiles are from an eco-carpet line. Carpet tiles also allow portions of the floor to be restored over time without having to replace the entire carpeted area. Even the bathrooms will be using an eco-tile made from 40 % recycled ceramic content.
The walls will be painted with 0-VOC paints, which keeps harmful fumes from being emitted. The casework will be made using FSC certified wood, which ensures that it comes from responsible sources that are not contributing to the destruction of the world's forests. The furniture fabrics were all chosen from "green" lines made from 100% recycled polyester. The bathroom fixtures will be automatic and low-flow fixtures.
The flat roof over the brick portion of the building is composed of a white membrane and over the glass portion of the building a silver-colored metal roof was chosen. These colors reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it, cutting down on urban heat island effect in which dark surfaces soak in the sun's heat raising the ambient temperature of cities and requiring more energy to cool the building.
This type of roof is known as a "Cool Roof". Fidelity made a huge decision in favor of the community by foregoing it's typical green-colored metal roof and opting for one that is environmentally "green" instead. In this same spirit, the maximum amount of the site was planted as was possible to fight urban heat island effect and storm water run-off.
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