Home Federal Bank - Executive Office Renovation

A series of renovations during the 80s, 90s and early 2000s left the executive floor suite with an incongruent mix of styles, materials, and a lack of cohesive space planning.

Among the original mid-century doors, trims, and wall panels, some residential furniture, finishes and classical-style trims were added throughout the decades. These anachronistic features were removed while the original elements were preserved and restored where possible. It was discovered that the original wood used throughout the floor was clear-coated American black walnut, bleached and stained to a reddish cherry color sometime over the last few decades. The original wood wall panels were re-bleached and stained to match natural American black walnut being used throughout the new design, including new wood wall panels, door panels, trim, and furniture.

Other existing original elements provided a further framework for the new design. Existing wall panels in the private offices with black reveals provided a conceptual reference in which to base the new wood panel design. Additionally, existing custom-designed furniture from the original building circa 1963 were still being used throughout the building. Collaborating with a local furniture maker to make new long-lasting pieces for the client, two new reception desks were designed and built with similar detailing as the original furniture pieces but with a modern aesthetic to align with the updated architectural design of the suite. Some of the original furniture was refinished to match the new walnut elements and fitted with new quartz tops to provide a fresh look and to coordinate with the rest of the project once they were moved back into the offices.

Due to it being a downtown structure with windows on only one facade, there was also a lack of natural light and connectivity between the spaces. In an effort to respect the original design while elevating it to a more attractive, inclusive, and functional space, most original plaster walls remained in place with strategic full-height interior glass openings made to bring natural light and views from the adjacent legacy park deep into the floor plate beyond just the private offices.

The design of the project is intended to give the client a contemporary and functional space to serve their current needs that respects the history of the bank and the building it occupies.