This flagship branch for a recently re-branded financial institution aligns with the client’s mission of fiscal education and environmental awareness. The project is located on a previously developed site and was designed to wrap around an existing building that is the home of a “neighborhood favorite” ice cream shop. This unique programmatic pairing increases the area’s development density while minimizing changes to infrastructure and local traffic patterns. While only minor cosmetic alterations were made to the ice cream shop, the finished project portrays two buildings, two businesses embracing each other in a symbiotic relationship.
Re-inventing the “standard business model” created a direct impact on the organization of spatial relationships within the building and was made possible by new technology and equipment. In contrast to the wall of teller windows, cubicles, and private offices that had been used in the client’s previous branches, cross-trained employees use wireless computing and electronic transaction equipment. Reduced specialization minimizes private offices, and “Member Rooms” act as small teleconference spaces providing privacy when needed.
Although the project’s scale is modest, its sustainable design components are quite ambitious. The “photovoltaic blanket” provides passive cooling in a tropical climate over a roof that harvests rainwater for flushing toilets and irrigating native landscaping. The open building plan maximizes both daylight harvesting and occupant views.
The project incorporates many sustainable design components including on-site renewable energy, rain water harvesting, and natural daylighting. The roof-mounted photovoltaic system is designed to create almost 20% more on-site energy than the building will require. Our design team was an integral part of this process from the beginning helping develop ideas from architectural concepts to marketing logos & multimedia animations.
Large overhangs, exterior sunshades, and interior “clouds” diffuse the natural daylight that enters through the clerestory. The insulated Low-E glass pairs minimal solar heat gain with optimal visible light transmittance. The interior lighting system includes digital controls and photo sensors that automatically dim when natural daylight sufficiently illuminates a space. The open building plan maximizes both daylighting and views and is also directly related to the credit union’s new service delivery concept. In contrast to the wall of teller windows, cubicles, and private offices that have been used in the client’s previous branches, employees will use wireless tablet PCs so that they can sit down with members in comfortable cafe-style seating to discuss their financial business. Corporate education will cross-train all employees at this location to reduce the number of specialized employees required for operation, thus minimizing private offices. “Member Rooms” act as small teleconference rooms providing privacy when needed.
The previously developed site is located just outside the city limits of Lakeland in a primarily sub-urban residential area. An existing 998 square foot ice cream shop occupies the site with excess paved parking and area for storm water retention. High tension power lines traverse the site creating a 100’ wide utility easement limiting the potential area for new construction. The project is designed to wrap around the ice cream shop, increasing the area’s development density while minimizing changes to infrastructure and local traffic patterns. Preserving the existing building can not only be seen as diverting 100% of its materials from disposal in landfills through building reuse, but more importantly maintaining current jobs for its employees and a service to local residents. A traffic study proved that each business’s peak hours of operation were antonymic to the other. The credit union is open until 6:00 pm during the weekdays and Saturday mornings, and the ice cream shop thrives in the evenings and on weekends. The cohesive design increases cooling efficiency by reducing each structure’s exposure to the Florida climate. While only minor cosmetic changes will be made to the ice cream shop, the finished project will portray two buildings, two businesses embracing each other in a symbiotic relationship.
To harvest rainwater, a multIple-cistern collection system will support both water closets and drip irrigation. With rain water reuse and low flow fixtures, calculations show the building will use 80% less potable water than a conventional design. The landscape design utilizes “Florida-friendly” plants that require minimal irrigation. Three 3,500 gallon cisterns will supply the site’s high-efficiency drip irrigation system with harvested rain water, therefore, eliminating potable water for irrigation.
The roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system is design to produce 116% of the facility’s estimated energy requirement, qualifying the design at NET ZERO. The “blankets” of PV modules are significantly elevated above the solar reflective roof membrane. This creates a double roof condition that dissipates direct solar heat gain as well as the operating heat of the PV modules through natural convection between the two roof layers.
2011 Committee on the Environment (COTE) Award
American Institute of Architects (Tampa Bay)
2010 Building of the Year
US Green Building Council (Gulf Coast & Central Florida Chapters)
2010 “Beyond Green” Award
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (DC)
2009 USGBC LEED GOLD Certification
First in Polk County, FL
New Buildings Institute
with support from the
National Association of State Energy Officials &
Commercial Buildings Consortium
March 2012 – Research Report
High Perforamance Buildings Magazine
ASHRAE, Spring 2012 – Case Study
New York Times & ClimateWire
“As More Commercial Buildings Go Green, a Few Go ‘Net Zero’”
March 23, 2011
Maddux Business Report (Tampa Bay)
“Doubly Cool” by Jennifer Lugo, May 2009
Magnify Credit Union Featured Article
Lakeland Ledger
“Credit Union Going for the Gold in Its Green Certification”
Polk County Business Journal Green Series by Laura Howell
March 2, 2009
“Net Zero Construction Could Become the Wave of the Future”
WFLA / News Channel 8; Jennifer Leigh; March 20, 2009
“Net Zero Construction Could Become the Wave of the Future”
Fox 13 News / My Fox Tampa Bay; Ken Suarez; 2009
During Construction Report
Bay News 9; Melissa Sogegian; 2009
After Construction Report
Bay News 9; Melissa Sogegian; 2009
Video Compilation of Grand Opening Events
Provided by Magnify Credit Union
Video Project by Lakeland Highlands Middle School
