A new PNC branch location has opened its doors and vault for customer deposits in downtown Baltimore. Located at 426 W. Baltimore Street, the branch is another example of PNC Bank's commitment both to its communiities and to the environment.
The LEED-certified building includes window panes that three times more efficient than conventional glass and allow a generous amount of natural "daylighting" in all occupied areas of the building. In addition, the branch offices are equipped with motion sensing light switches, so that when the office is not occupied the lights are automatically turned off. The branch also sports solar shades for windows that block direct sunlight without
eliminating daylight.
Green from top to bottom, the building's roofing material is highly reflective and reduces heat retention; and is supported by trusses and plywood that come from managed forests, which plant multiple trees for each one cut down. Roof projections were designed to shade the building interior from direct sunlight.While the heating and air conditioning systems use 35% less energy. The state of the art plumbing facilitates educed water usage through dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets.
Inside the new branch, nearly everything is made from recycled material�from the steel structure to the carpet. Pre-manufactured exterior panels reduced construction waste. The paints, adhesives and caulking used during construction do not contribute to greenhouse gases.
Under the lead of Curtis Pope, branch manager, the branch will aid the community as much as it does the environment. Pope, a Baltimore native who grew up in the Northeast section of the city and graduated from Mervo in 1997, says that he wants members of the surrounding community to feel like they can come to the bank for all their needs or just a bit of advise.
"I was born and raised here. There's something about having a branch in the area to kind of help the community rebuild. I love that piece of PNC bank. We can touch both realms of the community - low to moderate incomes and high incomes as well. We want to help change the community one person at a time. I hope that even if we can't do anything for them from a banking aspect because bottom line is you can't help every person, just being able to be that person who people can come in and talk to and put a smile on their faces or listen when they have life changing events and point them in the right direction," he says.
Source: Curtis Pope, PNC Bank
Writer: Walaika Haskins