Griskelis Young Harrell – Architects | Allied First Bank

Allied First Bank

Allied First Bank’s new headquarters building was completed in the summer of 2007. The 18,000 s.f. facility, located in Oswego, Illinois provides clients with First Floor retail banking, investment opportunities, cafe’, and basketball court/community space. The Second Floor supports a call center, Internet banking, private offices, and conference space.

The client wanted to include a community room in the program for their new suburban Chicago headquarters.  Knowing that the chairman and many of the staff were avid basketball fans, GYH suggested that the community room be sized to accommodate a 1/2 sized basketball court.  This community room/basketball court, rather than a small room at the back of the bank, became a central defining element in the building.  It is surrounded on all sides with glass, allowing it to function as a light court to the interior areas of the bank.  It provides windows in rooms that would otherwise be in the windowless center of the building.