Multi-Use Bank, Business Offices, and Residential Apartments

Located in Mendham, NJ, an upscale town with historical downtown, this property was previously the site of a 90 year old structure, considered by many in the town to be an iconic building. The site itself was a high-profile location being bounded on one side by Main Street (the main thoroughfare through town) and on another side by an artery side street. The original wood framed structure was in disrepair and a cost estimate and study was prepared and revealed that, bringing it up to code and standards would not have made financial sense for our client. 

The town’s architectural review and planning boards agreed to review the design of a new building with the understanding that a new building would possess the same detail and character found in many older, Queen Anne period historical structures found in town. With this assignment, our firm set out and designed a presentation site plan and exterior rendering which was presented and approved by the Architectural Review Committee and Planning Board. The elements of design included a turret and gable front, shingle and copper roofs, ground level “porch” pedestrian walkways around 3 sides of the building, stone and horizontal siding, and double-hung divided lite windows with wide trim. 

The structure was designed with a structural steel frame, steel stud exterior and interior walls, wood floor trusses, and conventionally framed wood roof. A prominent real estate office and a bank became tenants at the beginning of the design phase so a drive-thru banking element had to be incorporated on the left front of the building, 

Parking was located at the rear of the building away from the street side elevations thereby maintaining a residential feeling. After completion, the governor who also lived in town, telephoned our clients and expressed his accolades for building such a beautiful, well designed building which not only complimented the architecture of the town, but also became an icon on the corner.