About the Project
First National Bank of Spearville has been a pillar of this rural Kansas community for more than a century and has been located in the building at 401 North Main Street since 1917. The aging building was no longer suitable for the needs of a modern banking institution. The old building was elevated several feet above the sidewalk, which meant it was not handicap accessible. It was landlocked without room for a drive-through or future expansion. The traditional teller line and sequestered offices had become a barrier between the employees and customers. The bank wanted to serve the needs of its modern customers, but the constraints of the old building made it difficult for them to accomplish this.
For this reason, the bank hired WDM Architects to design a new slab-on-grade, single-story building to replace their aging facility. As a first step, a site was selected where a new building could be constructed from the ground up. WDM’s design set the building back off the property line, providing greenspace to soften the connection to Main Street and allowing room for drive-through lanes and employee parking. A ground-level entrance was designed to provide easy access for customers with disabilities.
To create a warm and welcoming space for walk-in customers, WDM designed the interior lobby with a lounge seating area and a stone fireplace. Glass-front offices were oriented towards the lobby and teller area to provide a visual connection with customers and to allow natural daylight into the heart of the building.
Spaces include:
- Entry vestibule
- Lobby
- Teller stations
- Drive-through teller area
- Bank vault
- 5 offices
- Conference room
- Work rooms, break room and restrooms
