NELSON Worldwide was tasked with creating a prominent and branded space for the Bell Bank offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Bell Bank is the nation’s sixth largest privately owned bank, offering full-service banking and mortgage lending. For their City Center branch in Downtown Minneapolis, the goal was to design an unrivaled banking space that changes the work dynamic, honors special customers and guests through elevated hospitality, and enhances the Bell Bank brand. The former 8,512 square-foot space was updated and reimagined by award-winning architecture and design firm NELSON Worldwide who created an upscale banking and workplace experience that fosters connections between employees and customers. The new center is a visual focal point within the city, overlooking one of the busiest intersections in Minneapolis, marking Bell Bank’s presence.

To develop a workplace that blends retail banking, a concierge-style approach, and entertainment, the design team incorporated a variety of spaces for employees to meet with colleagues and engage clients. The downtown Minneapolis location runs as a fully-operational banking and mortgage lending center, equipped with welcoming tellers. The project serves as an uncompromised entertainment venue for celebrations and special gatherings. This includes conference rooms, coffee and wine bars, a sunroom with banquet seating, a second-story outdoor deck that overlooks the downtown area, and an exclusive entertainment lounge, the Champions Club – reserved for special events and guests.

The Champions Club honors the Bell Champions, consisting of local celebrities, personalities, and media ambassadors who partner with the bank on community initiatives and whose goals and values align with Bell Bank. This exclusive lounge features a full-sized kitchen with hidden appliances, state-of-the-art coffee machines, and fully-stocked bars for hosting client events. A fireplace was also added to this space as a relaxing, upscale retreat.

The NELSON design team curated every angle of the new Bell Bank Experience Center to be visually stunning and memorable. Upon entering, a broad sweeping glass gives views to the tellers and entertaining spaces beyond. A segmented Cambria backdrop is a great welcoming point as you move through the bank and into the entertaining space. For the main employee meeting areas, Bell Bank aimed to increase the collaboration amongst its staff by incorporating ​​conference rooms, luxurious open meeting areas, and a second-floor outdoor deck that overlooks the core of downtown Minneapolis. The design team extended the conference spaces for the outdoor deck to reach the outdoors. This area overlooks the Nicollet Mall—creating an indoor-outdoor multipurpose area that establishes the bank’s presence in the city.

The design team chose a natural palette of tans and grays, and added a touch of rich greens and gold for the material and color story to further enhance the upscale look that the Bell Bank team was aiming to achieve. High-end finishes were used throughout the bank, including Cambria solid surface, tile floors, and demountable partitions with switch glass. Bell Bank’s signature Cerulean blue was also integrated throughout the main kitchen and entertaining areas to tie together the existing brand aesthetic. The design team added millwork and abstract carpeting in the boardrooms and study areas to create a sense of movement. Stones sourced from the Bell Bank founders’ farm were used throughout the space, an element included within every Bell Bank project as it pays homage to the brand’s family history and adds a personal connection.

At Bell Bank City Center, NELSON Worldwide’s teams removed previous mechanical and plumbing systems to recreate the space and make room for the brand’s vision. The new downtown Minneapolis center reflects Bell Bank’s goal of enhancing and elevating the existing brand and expanding on new and existing relationships. NELSON Worldwide designed an unconventional bank that focuses on a concierge-style approach and creates an upscale and hospitable experience for those who walk through their doors.

Design: NELSON Worldwide
Photography: Corey Gaffer

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