Lots of people toured ATB Financial’s new branch in Sylvan Lake on Friday.
But to see perhaps the most interesting feature of the building in Ryders Square, they had to scale an interior ladder and climb onto the roof. There, more than 1,200 square feet of plants and ornamental grasses were soaking up the sun.
“It improves air quality and is more efficient for heating and cooling,” explained John Swarbrick, ATB Financial’s regional vice president.
He added that the Sylvan Lake branch is the first of ATB Financial’s 165 to have a green roof, but more are likely to follow. Other environmental features in the new branch, which opened last month, include motion-activated light sensors, low-flow water fixtures and plenty of windows to provide natural light.
Swarbrick also pointed out that the design of the new branch is unique to Sylvan Lake, with frosting on interior windows depicting lighthouses, models of sailing ships in offices and other nautical and local artwork.
“What we’re trying to do is make buildings unique to the community,” he explained, adding that this philosophy extends to the branch’s green colour scheme.
“These colours I don’t think are in any other branch in ATB.”
Sylvan Lake was previously served by an ATB Financial agency operating out of The Paint Stop. A stand-alone branch will now give local customers access to a full range of banking services, said Swarbrick, with a financial adviser, two small business lenders, a mortgage development officer, two personal lenders and other staff on hand.
The branch manager is Nancy Numan.
“Now we can do everything out of Sylvan,” said Swarbrick, who lives in the community.
He added that the branch, which consists of more than 5,000 square feet, has been built for growth.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com