First National Bank in Valley Junction

First National Bank, which has long been a staple of Valley Junction in Des Moines, Iowa, partnered with RDG to design a new, modern branch office on a prominent corner across the street from the bank's original 1900s location. RDG's design helps address the need for access to inclusive and reliable services. The neighborhood's diverse population influenced the bank's desire to prioritize in-person, face-to-face connections with customers, and though the bank offers modern amenities such as interactive video banking and drive-through, it was adamant that there also be lobby services available for customers and that the space should be welcoming and accessible. In response, RDG’s design creates a sense of openness and access through features like floor-to-ceiling windows, well-lit internal and external spaces and an inviting entry area that also offers pedestrians a spot to stop and rest. Designers took inspiration from the mid-century modern style of several surrounding buildings in this thriving commercial district, and from the bank's commitment to maximizing access to its services at a pedestrian scale.

RDG's lighting design for the bank complements the modern interior with minimal visible light fixtures and an overall “glowing box” effect at night. To provide the required high foot-candle illuminance levels needed for a bank environment without drawing direct attention to the lighting itself, the lighting design team used decorative rings in the seating area to provide scale and an aesthetic statement to the interior and leveraged carefully concealed indirect and small aperture downlight fixtures to provide the needed task lighting.