Award of Merit - Retail

Wachovia Madison Avenue Branch

Wachovia Corp.'s new branch on Madison Avenue wasn't just a one-shot construction project. It was an important symbol as two major financial institutions were merging and trying at the same time to establish a foothold in Manhattan, which has been the scene for an all-out battle between banks seeking new customers.

After dust from the merger of Wachovia and First Union Corp. settled last year, the company's executives had to choose a new look for retail branches that would create a distinct identity while attracting new banking clients.

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The design team developed plans for the bank's new prototype branch on Madison Avenue, creating a "kit of parts" usable at Wachovia's 50 branches in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area and 2,500 branches nationwide. The team declined to provide the project cost.

Taking its cue from the latest fashion in retail banking interiors, the design leaves much of the 7,000-sq.-ft. space open. When customers enter the Madison Avenue branch, they easily spot the main counter, as well as a welcome center and private desks suitable for more lengthy transactions. These desks are in self-contained, glass-walled pods that maintain the feeling of openness but afford a modicum of privacy.

The jury described it as a "nice spacious interior that kicks up banking to a new level."

Floors in the Madison Avenue branch are a warm hardwood material, while the customer waiting area contains a rocking chair and a colorful rug. Above the main waiting area, an arc backlit panel provides visual interest.