Boston—May 2, 2005—Shawmut Design and Construction continued its long-term partnership with Citizens Bank by completing the construction of its new premier flagship branch office in the heart of bustling Harvard Square, Cambridge. The two-phase project involved converting the former Abercrombie & Fitch store into a state-of-the-art, 13,000 square foot, two-story bank on an aggressive 16-week schedule. Boston-based Integrated Design Group was the project architect.
For the past four years, Shawmut has been an integral part in building the Citizens brand. In 2003, Shawmut completed Citizens’ 5,000 square foot branch prototype in Belmont, Mass. on an eight-week schedule. Shawmut has also been involved in Citizens’ Green Light Project, which involved 40 branch renovations at supermarkets throughout Massachusetts, and the Branch Renovations and Upgrades program, which involved multiple fit-outs of full-service bank branches.
The Harvard Square flagship involved construction of the ATM vestibule as well as a second floor atrium with structural glass handrail system, LCD display wall with built-in plasma screens, extensive millwork package, terrazzo flooring, eight customer service representative platforms, investments offices, community room, employee break rooms and two kitchenettes. The challenges of building the largest Citizens Bank location thus far included working in a challenging urban environment that dictated restricted working hours, careful scheduling of material deliveries, and close coordination with the building’s management and neighboring tenants.
