In the addition and renovation of Citizens State Bank’s main headquarters in Somerville, TX, BBA Architects, LP, of Brenham, TX, sought to carry forth the architectural identity it had helped establish in two earlier branch designs. With its sizable addition and a new look that blends local limestone with contractor-fabricated and factory manufactured metal products, the bank’s home office re-establishes its presence as an economic and cultural anchor within the community and exists as a source of civic pride.
The bank’s existing lobby and office space were re-clad in the same limestone as the new addition, unifying the building’s material palette. By introducing a new element to the already established palette of materials, the new steel and wood entry canopies at the north and west entry courts formally mark the public entry points into the bank lobby. New exterior sunshades were added to the existing two-story building’s west-facing wall. The sunshades, fabricated from industrial aluminum metal grating, reduce the infiltration of summer sun and establish an architectural characteristic. They serve to make the corporate offices unique while remaining true to the brand identity of rural, historic Texas materials used in refined, modern ways. A new retrofit roof system was designed over the existing flat-roofed building using standing seam metal panels with rooftop “chimneys” to allow for ventilation.
Working within the constraints of the downtown site meant that much of the square footage of the new addition would need to extend vertically. At the first floor, a new community room accommodates a multitude of functions and includes a kitchen. Bank customers are allowed to use this space free of charge for an assortment of activities. The new four-lane drive-thru is adjacent to the kitchen space. The existing second floor is expanded over the new drive-thru teller lanes while a new third floor is above that, ready for future finish-out.
The cantilevered balconies off of the second floor board room and break room offer an extension of the interior space, allowing board members and bank employees to enjoy a step outside. Large multi-purpose training rooms have large south-facing windows which allow natural daylight to penetrate into the layers of the building.
There was also a conscious attempt to reference significant historic moments in the community with the new addition. The overall building form was borrowed from the former original public school building in Somerville. In addition, the town of Somerville was founded as a rail stop with a link to Galveston. The importance of the railroad in the community’s history is delineated by the building’s use of linear exposed steel and railings. A subtle connection to Galveston is expressed in several ways. Sloped grating window awnings are reminiscent of Bahama-style shutters, and a lightweight all-metal façade with varying textures of flat-seamed metal panels and concealed fastener wall panels sits above the elevated drive-thru on pier-like concrete columns.
All told, the project involved the renovation of 6,773 sq. ft. of existing space and 17,566 sq. ft. of new construction. Work began in January 2011 and was completed in April 2012.
Collier Construction Inc. of Brenham was the construction manager, with MCT Sheet Metal Inc. of Katy, TX handling the installation of roof, wall and soffit systems.
The sheetmetal contractor fabricated and installed the standing seam roof panels, soffit panels, and flat seam wall panels. MCT’s Double-Lock Standing Seam roof panels are 16-3/4” wide and mechanically seamed resulting in a 1-1/2” tall double-locked seam. The Flush Seam soffit panels, with interlocking seams and hidden fasteners, are 1” deep and 12” wide with V grooves at 4” on center. The flat, interlocking wall panels are 32” wide x 16” high. Above the flat-seam wall panels on the second floor, the third floor is wrapped with Berridge Manufacturing’s HR-16 horizontal panels. They are 7/8” deep x 16” wide. All panels were formed of 24-gauge Galvalume-coated steel and finished in Champagne Metallic. Berridge is headquarterd in Houston, TX.
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Pictures at the left show the Citizens State Bank home office before and after its renvoation and expansion.