Design for the Anderson Brothers Bank – Sumter Branch balances operational demands with a desire for transparency, visibility, and ease of navigation. The bank’s new branch location announces its presence in the community, and the building’s orientation on the site maximizes visibility from the two adjacent arterial routes. Anderson Brothers Bank proudly serves many clients in a quasi-rural setting, and site planning for the Sumter Branch carefully considered circulation paths for large vehicles with trailers. Clear circulation and intuitive access are prioritized, with a defined entry sequence that guides customers seamlessly from parking to the building’s primary vestibule.

The Sumter Branch’s exterior combines familiar, traditional materials with contemporary detailing and expansive glazing, creating a building that is both familiar to the Anderson Brothers Bank brand and forward-looking. The building’s massing is clean and legible, with a prominent entrance that anchors the façade and provides clear wayfinding. A restrained palette of materials—complemented by large areas of glazing—creates a modern yet timeless aesthetic. The transparency of the exterior envelope allows natural light to penetrate deep into the interior, enhancing both energy efficiency and user experience.

Inside, a zoning strategy creates a clear gradient from public spaces to private spaces. Consolidating high-security functions into a controlled central zone leaves the building perimeter free for public-facing spaces and private offices, maximizing daylight in the areas where customers and staff spend the most time. It also enhances acoustics and privacy. Glass-front offices maintain visual openness while ensuring acoustic separation, allowing for confidential conversations without disconnecting staff from the larger environment. Rather than a transactional, queue-driven space, the Sumter Branch’s lobby features a variety of seating options, a central check-writing area, and clear sightlines to the teller line. A double-height volume features a warm wood ceiling and clerestory windows that introduce abundant natural light, ensuring the lobby is a comfortable, daylit gathering space.

The interior finish palette is composed of warm neutrals that reference exterior materials, and green accents that cleverly reinterpret Anderson Brothers Bank’s brand color. Linen-look vinyl wall covering adds textural warmth and durability in the teller area and the high-traffic corridors. Green wall tile accentuates the coffee niche in the lobby and the backsplash in the breakroom. Warm wood-look ceiling tiles with a black reveal give depth to the conference room ceiling. Vertically stacked green tile provides the restrooms with an opulent wainscoting. Integrated millwork, durable finishes, and thoughtfully selected materials support daily operations without sacrificing design quality.

This project is currently under construction with FBi Construction.