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‘Confidence, strength in Cody’ spur Pinnacle’s new building
By Anthony McConnell
This document was published online on Monday, January 05, 2009
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| This computer graphic by CTA Architects of Billings (view is northeast from approximately the traffic light at 17th and Beck, with the Blair Buildings behind the bank) shows the proposed Pinnacle Bank on the former site of the Rainbow Park Motel. (Courtesy CTA Architects) |
The slumping national economy has not slowed a Cody bank’s expansion plans.
Pinnacle Bank will start construction this spring on its new 25,000-square-foot bank at Sheridan and 17th “ across from the Holiday Inn boardwalk on the former site of the Rainbow Park Motel.
“There’s no doubt the economy is always part of what’s considered with an expansion like this,” Pinnacle Bank CEO Doug Weedin said. “But we have confidence in Wyoming, and locally, we’re strong.
The reason for the new building is simple.
“We’ve seen significant growth and have a real lack of room,” Weedin said. “We’ve held off on this for as long as we could. This building is designed and planned for the future.”
The purchase of the property was announced in early 2008, demolition was completed in December and construction will start in March or April with an estimated completion date in the first quarter of 2010,Weedin said.
“We’ve been going through this (design) stage for what seems like forever,” he said.
He added that plans are preliminary and still need city and state approval.
“The indication is they will be favorable,” he said. “If there are any changes, they will be minor. We have to get the alley vacated because our entry plaza is where the alley is today.”
The building was designed to match the character of downtown and manage the location’s traffic needs.
The new bank will have three accesses; one entrance/exit on 17th south of the current alley, an entrance/exit onto Beck and the drive-through exit onto Sheridan.
The main entrance will face south, the western side of the building will run along the sidewalk, the drive-through will be on the east side and parking will be to the south and east.
“This (orientation) will connect us better to downtown,” Weedin said.
Not only is the building being designed to fit in with the community, it’s being designed to fit in with nature.
“Our goal is to be LEED certified,” Weedin said.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a “green” building program that sets standards for energy efficiency and environmentally friendly buildings.
The preliminary design calls for solar panels on the canopy covering the drive-up window and native plants in the landscape, watered by soaker hoses that conserve water by applying water directly to the roots of plants. Building materials will be environmentally friendly, Weedin said.
The building will be about 10,000-square-feet on the ground floor, 9,000 on the second and 7,000 in the basement. The current bank is 8,600-square-feet total.
“We’re getting close to triple the space” with the new building, Weedin said.
He declined to disclose the cost of the project. General contractor is Sletten Construction of Cody and the design is by CTA Architects of Billings.
(Anthony McConnell can be reached at anthony@codyenterprise.com.)
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