Futurebank Maps Out The Future of Banking

Atlanta (November 20, 2007) — This fall, senior architecture majors in Prof. Charles Rudolph’s Architectural Design studio prepared models and renderings of bank buildings that addressed questions about banking’s future. The studio was generously supported by GENOA real estate and construction company, and concluded with a competition judged by notable architects, including Annette Fierro (University of Pennsylvania), Frank Andre (Lord Aeck Sargent), Bryan Arroyave (GENOA), and Ila Burdette and David Rodgers (Perkins + Will).

The competition was built around the idea of designing a prototype for “Futurebank,” an imaginary chain of branch banks. Contemporary banking is increasingly private and digital, calling into question the need for physical bank branches. Yet, research has shown that consumers feel more comfortable with banks that have buildings in their communities, and many continue to visit them regularly for some of their financial business. The charge to the students was to address these trends architecturally, proposing ways to use architecture to shape the future of local banking. The bank prototypes also raised significant questions regarding the development of communities and urban areas, along with environmental questions of life-cycle and possible reuse.

Student Mark Moreno received First Place and a cash prize of $1,500. Stephanie Salzman received Second Place of $1000, and Jonathan Park received Third Place of $500. Daniel Jones and Genevieve Rudat both received an Honorable Mention.