MBT Bank, Clear Lake (Design-Build)

MBT Bank chose a great, high traffic location for its new Clear Lake facility. The northeast corner of North 8th St. and Highway 18, however, was a challenging site due to existing buildings, sloping grades, and a small footprint of land. Accord Architecture and Henkel Construction designed and built a sharp new bank at this location, which is a great upgrade for the once dilapidated property. With such a small footprint, site restrictions and highway traffic dictated the building’s orientation and traffic flow. A concrete retaining wall to the north accommodates a two-lane drive-through window and an expanded parking area on the east side. Inside the North Iowa bank, the lobby is attractive and open, with unique light fixtures. The offices find a balance between privacy and openness, aided by plenty of natural light.