Saco & Biddeford Savings Bank – Saco, Maine

The Design Challenge: To renovate Saco & Biddeford’s Head Quarters / Retail Branch. SBSI has a long history, founded in 1827 it is the Oldest Bank in the State of Maine. Bowerbird’s challenge was to strategically design a branch that would celebrate SBSB’s rich history, while remaining relevant and innovative for both today and many years to come.

The branch redesign focused on reimagining and modernizing the space, with the aim of keeping the design clean and classic. To achieve this, a variety of green hues, mixed with warm walnut and black toned woods were brought into the palette. The Black and Brushed Brass metals used against a backdrop of light, clean and neutral walls, bring a sense of warmth and welcome into the new branch.

Dirtt glass walls with sliding doors were utilized on all new office fronts. Fittingly, located at the Tech high top table area (at the front of the of the building) modernly displays a feature wall seamlessly stitching together two photographs of the exterior of the building.  One highlighting the past and the other celebrating the present.

Having two waiting areas allows customers to meet with their bankers in a more casual way or dip into one of the private offices adjacent. Featuring a custom freshwater fish tank at one and a custom display cabinet (housing SBSI’s historic bank related collectibles) at the other, both waiting areas are visually enticing.

Bowerbird Curated all the custom artwork pieces. Working with a local historian and graphic designer, we created hand colored- historical photos of the bank and surrounding Saco and Biddeford buildings. Each photo provides a bit of history in each office with a backdrop of the exposed brick found during construction. (Another texture to help give warmth and history to the building).

The gorgeous Vault door is original and proudly on display as is an interior Gate door hung on a wall now for all to view.