When Suburban Bank and Trust (SBT), headquartered in Elmhurst, IL, bought a small building for a new branch location the primary challenge was to give it an identity more fitting with the SBT style. The structure was built in the 1970s and needed more than just a new face so the bank called on PPKS Architects, Glen Ellyn, IL for help.
According to Mark Miszuk, Associate Principal at PPKS, the challenge really was twofold – to update the building and bring it up to code. “Conceptually this was a renovation of an existing structure,” he said. “It had been designed as a bank so the interior was conducive to the current needs, but the building had no outward insulation because it wasn’t required when the structure was built. So we evaluated different options to create a new look and add insulation without modifying the interior. We decided to use Kalzip for the cladding system because it allowed us to design a great new exterior and add insulation without tearing out walls. It solved both aesthetic and technical challenges.”
It wasn’t the first time PPKS had used Kalzip. Miszuk said members of his firm had previously specified the material on large European projects. “It was an innovative product that hadn’t yet been commonly used in the U.S. We thought it was just right for this smaller project,” he added.
The building renovation was completed in August 2007. The location is one of several operated by SBT, a community bank serving families and businesses in western and southern suburbs and the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago. PPKS is the architect of record for the project. The general contractor is J.J. Doherty Builders, Elmhurst, IL and the roofing installer is Stuckey Construction, Waukegan, IL.
The project features 1,400 square feet of Kalzip TF37/800R façade system made of 0.040 aluminum with a twin-triangular profile that creates an interesting exterior through an interplay of light and shade across its shape. The panels are also ideal for new construction and are fully demountable for reuse or recycling. They are now manufactured in Kalzip’s Michigan City, IN facility.
Image courtesy of Brian Fritz Photography