MUSCLE SHOALS – Dignitaries and elected officials from across North Alabama gathered on the banks of the Tennessee River here Thursday where Bank Independent celebrated its 75th anniversary by unveiling plans for a state-of-the-art operations center. The stunning glass-front building will sit off Reservation Road on 50 acres the bank purchased from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
“Today’s announcement continues our 75-year commitment to making a positive difference every day for our team members, our customers and our communities,” said Bank Independent President Macke Mauldin. “It’s especially noteworthy that we are building on the ground of the original TVA where Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy came to recognize our community’s monumental contribution to electrifying the entire Tennessee Valley.”
And, Mauldin said, “25 acres will be used for the build and 25 acres will be for the little critters to go back and forth to the river.”
The spring 2023 groundbreaking comes with a more than $60 million investment. The 95,000 square-foot complex is scheduled to be completed by spring 2025. It will bring the bank’s operations staff from five buildings around the Shoals area to under one roof.
The four-story building will feature a covered walkway leading to a sprawling two-story lobby that extends through the depth of the building. The exterior will include a combination of steel and concrete with brick, glass, and metal panels with aluminum frames.
LED lighting will brighten the interior with minimal suspended ceilings resulting in tall interior spaces. The corporate office space features open office systems furniture and demountable glass walls. There will be floor plates configured to allow natural light while facilitating outdoor views of the river and “critters.” The construction also provides maximum flexibility for future growth and changes.
“While this facility demonstrates our commitment to our team and our community, it is also an investment,” said Mauldin. “It’s an investment in the creative and collaborative future of work.”
The bank will spare no expense to ensure Shoals employees have comfortable working conditions. The facility will have training rooms, a medical response area, wellness rooms testing rooms, a conference room with catering services, a café and private dining area with a kitchen, a fitness center, and a museum honoring the 75 years of the bank’s history.
“Bank Independent leads by example and through action,” said Caitland Holland, president of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce. “They are a beacon of prosperity in our community and have been an economic driver and influencer for 75 years.”
Calvin Durham with Lambert Ezell Durham Architecture of Florence is the lead architect in association with KPS Group. Robins & Morton will serve as general contractor for the project.
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