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closeEach week, The Bellingham Herald takes a look at an ongoing commercial construction project in Whatcom County. This week: Key Bank.
What is happening?
Key Bank broke ground on Tuesday, Aug. 26 on a new branch that will replace an old Key Bank, built in 1978. The old building was demolished in April 2007.
Where is it?
At 1221 N. State St., across the street from the YMCA.
Who is doing the work?
Dawson Construction Inc. is the general contractor.
How much does is cost?
Roehm declined to release the cost of the project.
Scheduled completion date?
The new branch is scheduled to open by the end of May 2009. The new Key Bank branch will absorb the clients that currently do business at the 101 E. Holly Street location, which will close when the new bank opens.
What is noteworthy about the project?
The new bank will be 9,000 square feet, about double the size of one of the bank's regular branches. The extra space is needed to accommodate around 20 employees and the combination of several types of Key Bank services including retail, business and private banking along with home mortgage and trust services.
"The old building was small, and I'd say we were under-utilizing the space," said John Roehm, senior vice president and district retail leader of Key Bank. "It wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing site, so this will be much nicer building. We saw this as an opportunity for us to build a better facility for our clients as well as make that corner look a lot better."
A small park will be put in as well as a landscaped portion of the first-floor roof. Inside the building, a video wall with eight flat screen TVs will present helpful information to clients. The new bank will also feature five teller windows, a drive-up and walk-up ATM and a conference room.
"We see (the building) as a focal point when you come into Bellingham, so we went out of our way to make it something that not only Key Bank, but the whole community can be proud of," Roehm said.
SOURCES: JOHN ROEHM, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND DISTRICT RETAIL LEADER OF KEY BANK
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