Dollars and sense

• Photo courtesy of Geudtner & Melichar Architects, Lake Forest, Ill.
• Photo courtesy of Geudtner & Melichar Architects, Lake Forest, Ill.
• Photo courtesy of Geudtner & Melichar Architects, Lake Forest, Ill.
• Photo courtesy of Geudtner & Melichar Architects, Lake Forest, Ill.

When constructing a new building, it's important for a building owner to purchase the best materials and choose the best contractors while staying within his budget. Balancing options should result in a building that fits a building owner's needs. And nobody understands balancing more than an institution that does it every day—a bank.

Crystal Lake Bank & Trust Co. N.A., Crystal Lake, Ill., balanced its options when it decided to build a branch in McHenry, Ill., about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Crystal Lake. In 2001, the bank's administrators contacted Geudtner & Melichar Architects, Lake Forest, Ill., and asked the company to design the new branch.

Bank staff who had worked in McHenry knew what the town's residents wanted—a traditional building with employees who provide excellent customer service and products focused on making banking a better experience. The bank's administrators wanted to provide their existing and potential customers with such a bank for a reasonable sum. However, traditional building materials, such as stone, are expensive. Fortunately, Geudtner & Melichar Architects had a plan to give the branch a traditional look without spending too much money.

Fitting the bill

People in McHenry are accustomed to the easygoing lifestyle a small town provides. However, McHenry is large enough to offer townspeople all the amenities they need, and its location on the Fox River and near surrounding lakes allows residents to relax in their own resort town. McHenry also is located 55 miles (89 km) northwest of Chicago, which is far enough from big-city living but close enough that a weekend trip to explore museums and cultural events easily is taken. An idyllic location and development of jobs because of several factories have brought many people to rapidly growing McHenry.

Crystal Lake Bank & Trust's administrators recognized their opportunity to expand into McHenry's growing community. And because the administrators hoped to provide products and services to McHenry's residents, they planned to enter the community on the residents' terms.

"Crystal Lake Bank & Trust wanted to provide a new banking facility that is community-oriented and taps into the small-town values of McHenry," says Robert Abell, senior associate with Geudtner & Melichar Architects. "The [bank's administrators] wanted a facility that would feel familiar and welcoming to McHenry's citizens. Geudtner & Melichar Architects suggested a classic structure reminiscent of McHenry's historic architecture."

In November 2001, work began on the 10,000-square-foot (929-m²) building that would become McHenry Bank & Trust. Geudtner & Melichar chose Vacala Construction Inc., Lake Forest, Ill., as the general contractor. And Vacala Construction subcontracted roofing work to Elgin Roofing Co., Elgin, Ill.

A roofing transaction

Roof system installation began in February 2002 and was completed in August 2002. Elgin Roofing was asked to install a 5,190-square-foot (482-m²) metal roof system over steep-slope areas and 1,050-square-foot (98-m²) torch-applied APP-modified bitumen roof system over low-slope areas.

Three Elgin Roofing workers began metal roof system installation by attaching 5/8-inch- (16-mm-) thick DensDeck® Roof Guard over a structural metal deck that was secured to metal roof trusses. Then, a layer of Johns Manville SureGrip™ Ice and Water Guard was adhered and covered with 3-inch- (76-mm-) thick Johns Manville E'NRG'Y 2™ rigid insulation. A layer of 15-pound (7-kg) building paper was installed over the insulation. Finally, an Englert Inc. Series S2000® structural, prefinished 0.04-inch- (1-mm-) thick aluminum panel, snap-lock standing-seam roof system was installed.

During steep-slope roof system installation, crew members used harnesses and lifelines to protect themselves from falling.

Meanwhile, five Elgin Roofing crew members installed an APP-modified bitumen roof system on low-slope areas. A concrete roof deck was covered with 5/8-inch- (16-mm-) thick DensDeck Roof Guard. Then, Johns Manville SureGrip Ice and Water Guard was installed under Johns Manville E'NRG'Y 2 rigid insulation. Finally, Johns Manville Fesco® perlite board was attached under a Performance Roof Systems DERBIGUM® modified bitumen roof system.

Interest in metal

In addition to roofing work, Elgin Roofing installed an 8-inch (203-mm) Roman profile, prefabricated architectural metal gutter and cornice system manufactured by Perimeter Systems around the perimeter of the building. The unique gutter and cornice system measures about 450 lineal feet (137 m) and resembles stone.

Abell states: "Traditional architectural shapes were specified and detailed to reinforce the traditional imagery of the bank. The gutters and cornices were prefinished with a color to match the limestone entry columns and building base."

According to Gianni Pellegrinon, Elgin Roofing's sheet-metal department sales and project manager, the gutter and cornice work was difficult.

Pellegrinon says, "Because lead times and out-of-state shipping would take time compared with field measuring and fabricating at our facility, we worked closely with Vacala Construction to determine the guaranteed measurements that were required to order the materials."

To ease installation of the gutter and cornice system, Elgin Roofing crew members used a man lift to help them reach the eaves. Heavy-duty aluminum support brackets were installed with wood screws at 30-inch (762-mm) centers to the eaves' fascia boards. Small keeper brackets also were installed at the base of each aluminum support bracket for extra support because of the Roman profile's large size.

An aluminum gutter liner, which features 1-inch (25-mm) telescoping joints, was field-riveted and sealed with Sonneborn NP-1™ sealant. When the liner was mounted onto support brackets, its upper rear edge was fastened through factory-made holes.

The Roman profile fascia then was hooked over the support bracket's lower retainer stem and pulled into position. Each joint was covered with a 6-inch (152-mm) concealed splice plate.

To lock the fascia in place, interior straps were inserted through notches in the aluminum liner's outer lip and riveted to the liner's upper rear edge at 30 inches (762 mm) on center.

Assets to their businesses

Satisfied customers are a goal of every business. And when satisfaction is attained while saving money, a project becomes more rewarding.

McHenry Bank & Trust's architect and roofing contractor satisfied their customer and saved Crystal Lake Bank & Trust money by providing a gutter and cornice system that is a distinct architectural feature of the building at a fraction of the cost of traditional building materials.

"Completing the project on time and giving the building owner and architect the finished product they were looking for was most rewarding for me," Pellegrinon declares.

McHenry Bank & Trust also strives to satisfy its customers. Phil Oeffling, president of McHenry Bank & Trust, was confident the branch's building would lend itself to McHenry's idea of hometown banking with traditional values.

"As of 2003, there are 18 banks in a town of about 25,000 people. We wanted to build a branch that would give customers what they want when they come to the bank," Oeffling says. "And we're doing very well."

Christina Koch is associate editor of Professional Roofing magazine and NRCA's manager of public relations.

Project name: McHenry Bank & Trust

Project location: McHenry, Ill.

Project duration: February 2002 to August 2002

Roofing contractor: Elgin Roofing Co., Elgin, Ill.

Roof system types: Metal and APP-modified bitumen

Roofing manufacturers: Englert Inc., Perth Amboy, N.J., and Performance Roof Systems, Kansas City, Mo.

General contractor: Vacala Construction Inc., Lake Forest, Ill.

Architect: Geudtner & Melichar Architects, Lake Forest, Ill.