The banking industry is rapidly transforming from iron vaults and passbooks to digital identification and online transactions. Avidbank sought an opportunity to transform their workplace in a similar fashion. With three branches in the Bay Area, merging the Palo Alto with the San Jose location was strategic for growth. Inspired by the innovative environments of their Silicon Valley clientele, Avidbank wanted to break away from traditional banking office spaces and introduce a different way of working.
Finding the right balance between pushing expectations and user comfort was crucial. Employee tenure at both Avidbank locations was quite long, so the success of the workplace integration was crucial to retention and future growth. With input from their employees and guidance by the AP+I Design team, the tenets “tailored, transparent and open” and “the un-bank” became the guiding principles for design.
Occupying the top floor of a 6-story building gave Avidbank the opportunity to create a strong visual presence and to capture the views in the large meeting rooms and general workspace. Clean lines and a minimal color palette enhance the views and create an atmosphere of sophistication and seriousness. In contrast, brand expression through angled glass walls, specialty ceilings and dynamic custom graphics set the tone for next generation banking.
