Western Vista Credit Union Thomes Branch
Location: Cheyenne, WY
Year completed: 2022
Following a long-standing relationship with Western Vista Credit Union and assisting them with their branch design over the years, WGA was brought on as the project architect/designer for their newest location in downtown Cheyenne. The outcome is an unparalleled banking experience, replete with amenities including a state-of-the-art conference space and a Ziggi’s coffee shop adorned with chic cafe-style seating and a convenient pedestrian walk-up window.
Our team embarked upon this project with visionary sessions that brought to light the client’s aspirations: a high-tech, open-plan, innovative space with a modern design, destined to attract prominent tenants for the building’s remaining floors, and ideally, catalyze further remodeling efforts. We helped translate Western Vista’s brand guidelines into physical space by harmonizing the sleek modernity of the overall design with a refined warmth and contrast.
The existing six-story precast concrete structure, constrained by limited ceiling heights, presented a myriad of design challenges throughout the course of the project. To seamlessly integrate modern HVAC, electrical systems, and updated finishes, our team found solutions within the building’s original framework. To maximize ceiling height, recessed cove lighting was incorporated on the perimeter of the lobby and the ceiling was left exposed save for acoustic treatments artfully arranged in a configuration that mirrors the iconic Western Vista logo. Subtle yet impactful, the teller desks and conference room’s slat ceiling installation and carpet also incorporate the logo, affording moments of discovery that gently connect employees to the Western Vista Credit Union’s mission. Concealed behind large millwork panels, the ATM remains discreetly hidden from visitors while enabling seamless employee access. The floor-to-ceiling spandrel glass panels enveloping the pre-existing aggregate walls complete the inviting aesthetic that establishes this sleek and modern lobby as an unprecedented gem within the downtown Cheyenne landscape. This project was awarded the 2023 AIA Wyoming award for excellence in interiors.