The North End branch at dusk. Photo: Plunkett Raysich Architects.
This is cool: Earlier this month, our North End branch won a bronze Design Excellence Award from the Wisconsin chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, in the “Historic Projects” category.
The office attracted attention for its design when it opened last April, as the new construction is blended with a brick house from the late 19th century. OnMilwaukee devoted an installment of its “Urban Spelunking” column to the branch.
The North End lobby. Photo: Plunkett Raysich Architects.
Plunkett Raysich Architects handled the North End building design and shared the news of the award on LinkedIn last week. On its website, PRA notes that North Shore Bank had three goals for the branch: It should (1) attract attention and new customers, (2) offer both newer, more accessible banking services and more traditional services, and (3) allow pedestrians to easily access services without having to enter the building.
“This project successfully fulfilled each goal,” PRA said. Besides its highly popular walk-up video teller machines, the branch “utilizes a blue and green color palette, staying consistent among other branch locations. The new brick exterior echoes the language of the existing masonry home, with new metal paneling to evoke North Shore Bank’s brand. Signage was another important aspect. The North Shore Bank logo can be viewed from all exterior angles, making it a visible beacon on a small corner of Milwaukee.”
SVP retail banking Sue Doyle called the branch “a great fit for our bank, our customers and community.”
“It was important to us to reflect and respect the neighborhood around it. The branch complements the established residential area to the east and vibrant development of new residential and business spaces to the west,” she said. “I am especially proud of our signage — how it ‘talks to the street’ and promotes our brand and invites people in. Most important, of course, is the great team of people we have working there. Since opening, they have met checking and deposit goals and are patiently waiting to restart business development activities. This award is just another of the terrific things happening at North End.”
Inside North End. Photo: Plunkett Raysich Architects.
The Design Excellence Awards recognize projects by ASID members that creatively address client objectives and demonstrate creativity and problem-solving in a number of residential and commercial building categories.