Evanston-based First Bank & Trust broke ground today for the construction of a 3,600 square-foot LEED certified branch office at 4007 Dempster in Skokie.
Evanston-based First Bank & Trust broke ground today for the construction of a 3,600 square-foot LEED certified branch office at 4007 Dempster in Skokie.
Designed by Evanston architectural firm Behles+Behles, the cutting-edge facility will be among the first financial institutions in the Midwest designed to achieve the rigorous requirements for Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design gold-certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The bank worked closely with the Village of Skokie over the past five years to address community concerns about the construction and operation of a commercial facility with drive-up services in a mixed residential and business zone.
First Bank & Trust CEO Bob Yohanan speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Mayor Van Dusen said, “First Bank & Trust impressed us with its long-term commitment to the Skokie community. When they purchased the vacant lot area at Crawford and Dempster they not only ensured cleanup of the contaminated soil left by a gas station, but they successfully orchestrated the efforts of five utility companies to relocate a block of utility poles, to widen the alley for Skokie business and residential use.”
Architect Joe Behles said the bank’s “investment in green technologies will benefit the bank and their neighbors, and provide cost savings for years to come. The building is being designed to be adaptable for solar panels in the future, and the up front cost of installing geothermal heating is a significant financial investment over other heating systems.”