As America First Credit Union expanded its use of compact Virtual Teller Machines at drive-through locations, the organization faced an interesting design challenge: how do you give a relatively small structure enough architectural presence to be immediately visible, recognizable and consistent with the larger branch environment?
Images Courtesy of AFCU
Working with Studio 33 Architects, 3form developed a series of custom illuminated column wraps that transform the teller stations into bold exterior brand elements. The system has since become a repeatable design solution for America First locations, with installations expanding beyond the original Utah project into Arizona and additional locations underway in Nevada and Idaho.
Image Courtesy of: AFCU
The design uses ½-inch Chroma XT, an optical-grade resin selected for its illumination qualities, impact resistance and UV resistance for exterior applications. Achieving America First’s exact blue required an extensive sampling process: the team evaluated 12 different color combinations and material layups, ultimately layering Catalina B27, Cassidy B26 and Smudge N37 with a Powder diffusion layer and Vellum finish to maintain the desired color both illuminated and unlit.
There was an equally detailed fabrication challenge behind the clean finished appearance. The panels were CNC-cut and fabricated using light seaming and half-lap joinery, while the dimensional logo and lettering were inset using a push-through technique that allows the graphics to illuminate evenly. Hardware was deliberately eliminated from the logo face to prevent shadowing, with custom internal connections used there and point-support hardware incorporated on the remaining sides.
The backlighting system was also developed as part of the assembly, with LED puck strings mounted to an exterior-rated reflective structure behind the panels and factory burn-tested before shipment. The result is an exterior feature that functions as signage, lighting and architecture at once, giving the smaller-footprint teller stations a strong nighttime presence while creating a standardized system that can be carried across future branch locations.
