Market Sector： Financial Services

MG2 Listed in Building Design+Construction’s Top 200 Architecture Firms for 2024

MG2 ranked among the top 20 in Building Design+Construction Media’s recently released Top 200 Architecture Firms for 2024.

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Research & Insights – June 2024

Going Beyond the Transaction: Building Cross-generational Connectivity & Trust

Over the next 20 to 30 years, an estimated $68 trillion of wealth will transfer from Boomers to their Millennial and Gen Z offspring. This generational shift means banks need to think about how they can appeal to both their existing and future clients. While there have been attempts at attracting new customers through features such as cafes and coworking spaces, the question remains if consumers find value in these features and whether they deliver a real sense of connection with the bank. In this report, we investigate consumer banking perceptions and preferences, and identify design strategies and opportunities that can positively impact the consumer at a physical branch, resulting in increased visitation, improved consumer sentiment and trust.

The full report is available for download at the bottom of this preview. Take me there now!

What We Learned

Per our study, our respondents shared the following key insights as it relates to their experience with and their perceptions of a physical bank environment and which enhanced offerings would deliver the most value and greater consumer satisfaction:

Importance of Convenience

Respondents overall prefer a branch that prioritizes a convenient experience at nearly 4X the rate of a branch that reinforces a sense of financial confidence and knowledge 

Feelings of Assurance

MORE THAN 60% of all respondent age groups want a physical bank that evokes security and reliability

Fostering Community Ties

Respondents ranked branches that elect to act as community centers, choosing to go beyond just deposits and withdrawals, to be the #1 REASON across all age groups that positively influences their perception of the bank

Hybrid Service Model

NEARLY 70% of respondents desire self-service technology when processing a deposit or withdrawal, while more than 60% desire a staff-supported journey when dealing with something more intensive, such as applying for a loan or getting account help

Interior Design Elements

50% of respondents desire natural lighting in a banking environment, which led across all age groups

The Modern Branch Must Deliver Convenience, Personalized Service & Community Engagement In Order To Be Seen As A Valued Partner

In order for the branch to attract the next generation of banking customers, banks need to create spaces with their consumers and communities in mind, ensuring that their physical locations are prioritizing what matters most, such as being equipped with technology that delivers convenience, financial advisors that are more like allies and partners and spaces that support personalized service as well as connection with others. By testing alternate branch strategies such as ITMs or micro locations, banks can create a bridge to a broader consumer base, establishing roots in communities previously untapped. And through intentional, consumer centric design, the bank branch can become a space of comfortability and trust, featuring elements such as a welcome desk, an open floor plan and privacy pods for more sensitive conversations. If the branch can make the customer’s life easier while demonstrating respect for their business and time, the bank will be perceived as being a place that helps consumers succeed and grow throughout their financial journey, serving as their go to partner for all the major milestones ahead.

Download the full report for all of the key banking insights

Our Banking Experience

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MG2 Taps Meghana Joshi, AIA, NOMA to Lead Irvine Office

New managing principal in Irvine will oversee retail, banking, and residential markets.

IRVINE, CA—May 29—MG2 welcomes Meghana Joshi, AIA, NOMA to lead the global architecture and design firm’s Irvine office. As managing principal, Meghana will be responsible for expanding the firm’s reach in the California market, focusing on retail banking as well as senior living and affordable housing.

An award-winning architect with 25 years of experience, Meghana’s projects have been honored with multiple awards including SAGE Gold, SoCal Gold and the high-profile PCBC Gold Nugget Award, the oldest and most prestigious residential design award in the country. She has been a regular speaker at recent AIA chapter and national events. Meghana received a Bachelor of Architecture from Karnatak University in Dharwad, India and a Master of Architecture from San Francisco Institute of Architecture.

“I am excited to share my experience and expertise with the team in Irvine and grow the firm’s portfolio in the region,” says Meghana. “This office has a distinguished group of architects and designers who can tackle complex projects, and I look forward to working with them to further MG2’s brand in Orange County through targeted industry engagement and strategic business development.”

Meghana’s unwavering commitment to advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice in architecture led her to establish the Women in Architecture Committee at AIA Orange County, providing a vital platform for regional firms to actively contribute to advancing professional conditions for women in architecture. She also spearheaded the creation of an EDI+J Committee, dedicated to fostering mentorship opportunities for underrepresented minorities in the profession. Currently, her leadership extends to her role as Vice-President of AIA Orange County.

“We are thrilled to welcome Meghana to MG2 as the managing principal of our Irvine office,” says MG2 President Russ Hazzard. “Her experience and expertise combined with her awards and accomplishments make her an excellent choice to lead our SoCal office.”

MG2’s dedicated Irvine office, with 40+ employees, has been serving select markets and clients including Costco, Vans, and Target for more than 20 years.

ABOUT MG2 Guided by our vision to create transformative experiences that foster and elevate healthy communities, MG2 has been delivering award-winning projects and programs for over 50 years. We partner with some of the world’s most recognizable companies and brands to bring exceptional design solutions to life through full architectural, strategic planning, cost

management, interior design, brand strategy, and program consulting services. Our seven offices in the U.S. and China—Seattle, Portland, New York, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Irvine, and Shanghai—integrate building performance and social responsibility into every project. At MG2, our greatest strength lies in our people, our clients, and our commitment to helping them succeed. We are purpose-driven by nature, data-driven by design. www.mg2.com

消费者体验

WaFd银行总部

恢复和更新社区基石

社区驱动的设计

华盛顿联邦银行是太平洋西北地区社区的基石，是美国最大的银行机构之一，在八个州拥有 235 家分行。结合他们的品牌更新和向 WaFd 银行的过渡，该企业试图重新定位其西雅图旗舰店的内部和外部，创造一种体验和环境，重新设置品牌及其公司总部。设计团队通力合作，为银行客户和整个西雅图社区带来了一个现代、令人难忘的目的地。

照亮地标

最初设计和建造于 1980 年代的 WaFd 空间位于西雅图市中心 5th 和 Pike 的历史交汇处，当它消失在外面的树木后面时，路人几乎看不到它。团队试图“赋予角落权力”，精心策划适应性再利用工作，同时尽可能多地保留原始 40 年历史的石材外观。

MG2 的团队通过一系列设计创新实现了这一壮举：将入口移至更显眼、更吸引人的位置，我们用充满活力、安全的 ATM 体验取代了空出的位置。重新编程由焕然一新和照明的外立面与基础设计相辅相成，平衡了大胆、诱人的数字标牌和传统的建筑光芒。天篷——现在是透明的——已经被照亮和提升，使社区更容易接近空间。最后，新的窗户和玻璃窗提高了内部引人入胜的品牌的知名度。这些组件和谐地结合在一起，通过一个新的入口前厅将街景拉向内，欢迎顾客和路人。

高级本地化

数字优先的寻路和品牌元素是定制的，以突出 WaFd 的新技术前沿战略。它创建了内容区，热烈庆祝从西雅图城市文化到当地运动队的一切，与银行的观众建立联系，并展示他们最重要的服务和功能。

与技术方法相辅相成的是一个平易近人、以社区为中心的金融机构的经典风格：金色和青铜元素与温暖的胡桃木、草绿色布覆盖物和耐用的以品牌为中心的饰面相结合，为原本中性的空间注入色彩和活力。这些功能很容易随着 WaFd 新实施的身份而变化。

编程，协调

礼宾台使空间现代化，将其带入一个新时代，同时仍然拥抱建筑的优雅和永恒的渗透。它促进了整个大堂的自然循环和客户服务点。与空间设计同步的是一个创新的以用户为中心的银行流程，它创造了新的、灵活的、友好的连接方式。 WaFd 以款待为导向的计划经过战略性设计，旨在让银行员工和客户通过柜员互动、贷款预约以及半私人或私人会议实现共生流动。

大堂进一步展示了深邃的阴影、深色木墙和代表华盛顿自然标志的石材饰面，将您的目光吸引到空间后面的电梯墙上。到处都是壁龛和精致的橱柜，为礼宾、衣帽间和可伸缩的银行格栅提供存储空间。

组合的汇合

最初由四个独立的封闭区域组成——银行分行、大堂、走廊和零售店——WaFd 被重新设计成为一个统一的空间。这种体验提供了优化的交通流量，让顾客可以从银行空间自然地循环到毗邻的新星巴克。国际知名的咖啡品牌与我们的设计师进行了罕见的合作，将 WaFd 当代室内设计的大胆主题融入其零售主题中，延伸至 WaFd 及其客户可以使用的隐蔽会议室空间。这些元素与受委托的当地艺术品、固定装置和家具相结合，将城市社区和自然景观完美融合。

从简单的银行分行重新聚焦到一个复杂的、具有多种交通模式、小插曲空间和难忘时刻的设计前瞻项目，结果是一种现代、透明和热情的体验，位于亲切的款待和进步的微妙交汇处银行业。

消费者体验

街头银行

依靠更加个人化的未来

在全球金融危机和广泛的经济衰退之后，HomeStreet Bank响应了客户的需求，以扩大消费服务范围，超越贷款。为了实现这一壮举，HomeStreet Bank提出了更加个人化的品牌理念，专注于直接参与并建立与消费者的信任。

通过了解银行业的个人性质和HomeStreet Bank的扩张愿望，MG2能够通过建筑设计反映出这种日益增强的消费者参与度。该过程始于单一贷款中心的设计，然后随着HomeStreet Bank沿美国西海岸的扩张而包括一系列分支机构的设计。

MG2设计了一个以消费者为中心的银行环境，并采用了现代而诱人的外观，强调了分行与当地建筑融合的方式，彰显了HomeStreet Bank对社区的承诺。这些元素合在一起就体现了HomeStreet Bank的全新品牌。

消费者体验

第一科技联邦信用社

建立未来的金融中心

从分支机构的位置到这些空间的设计，First Tech Federal Credit Union致力于为会员服务的宗旨贯穿其中。在发展其第40个分支机构时，First Tech希望创造一种完全符合其技术导向型成员的生活方式和需求的体验。与传统的银行业务设置相比，这需要一种更加热情，轻松和现代的氛围。

MG2创建了一个分支环境，该分支环境将个人联系放在了最前列。典型的一排银行出纳员和一组账户管理台被一个开放的“联系中心”所取代，该联系中心由成员套房，办公室和一个宽敞的会议室围绕着，为各种类型的财务讨论提供了选择。灵活的布局，充满活力的配色方案以及移动技术的融合反映了First Tech成员的生活和工作风格，有助于将体验与他们的日常生活无缝整合。

与更传统的First Tech地点相比，新的分支机构概念提高了会员满意度，并为会员提供更多产品和服务的机会增加了。

基于积极的结果和成员的反馈，First Tech基于此模型引入了其他几个地点，并继续看到该概念在成员和员工中引起共鸣。