Designed by international design firm Pentagram in association with local firm Ammon Heisler Sachs Architects, the new M&T branch with contemporary look fuses traditional bank design with environmentally-friendly elements.
A signature look of the architectural design is the arcade with high canopy intended to reduce direct sunlight into the branch. Outdoor louver screens allow natural light to enter the branch’s full height glass walls besides minimising direct sunlight and glare. The interior of the bank features an intuitive light sensor system, monitors sunlight levels and dims the artificial lighting in spaces with sufficient sunlight.
The building’s overall design reduces energy usage by 25% and its plumbing design reduces water usage by 30%. Renewable energy credits have been purchased to supply power to the facility through sustainable sources.
The office was constructed according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards (LEED) established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The new branch design will serve as the model for future M&T Bank branch construction and renovation of existing branches.
The Pike Center branch is M&T’s 9th in Rockville and 38th in Montgomery County.
