NATIONAL BANK OF MIDDLEBURY

The National Bank of Middlebury (NBM) is a small community bank with a flagship headquarters on Main Street in Middlebury and several satellite branches in Middlebury and surrounding towns. In response to the changes in doing business following the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank embarked on a master planning project for all of its branches to consider more inclusive, community-centered spaces, more efficient use of space, and improved energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and employee comfort.

NBM has renovated the customer service lobby space of the Main Street building with more approachable teller stations and a combination of open and private meeting spaces. Its larger main floor space is currently serving as a temporary home for the community library while it undergoes a major renovation. Around the corner, its Seymour Street branch has also been renovated, and in Brandon, the branch has moved to a remodeled downtown building.

Middlebury’s Seymour Street Branch hosts a call center for customer service representatives on the second floor, featuring an open office space with work stations. A new, more welcoming employee break area with a kitchen, lounge, and private meeting spaces adjoins the drive-thru teller space on the main floor.

In Brandon the bank opted to move the branch to a downtown, pedestrian-friendly location in the historic Photographer’s building. With a gut rehab, the bank was able to design a branch to serve the evolving needs of its customers, employees, and local businesses while reflecting the broader Brandon community. NBM’s adaptive reuse of this building solved persistent issues in the historic building like repeated flooding and resulting moisture, upgraded the structural integrity of the building, and transitioned the bulk of its energy use to electricity. The interior is full of color and light, offering a living room space and community meeting room available after hours for community gatherings. The work of local artists adorn the walls, and the furniture, including the custom teller desk, was made by local craftsmen. The adaptive reuse of this historic building was ultimately more affordable (and more desirable) than building new and with its multi-use space for community use gives the town of Brandon more “bank” for the buck!