Bank of America Projects Come Full Circle — and Prepare to Turn Again

One of Andersen Construction’s established goals is to develop long term relationships and the Bank of America account is proof that this strategy works. Andersen’s partnership with the Bank of America dates back to 1994 when Andersen was chosen to install an “In Store” banking center in a Safeway Supermarket in Portland, Oregon. The Andersen team made a lasting impression and Andersen has been involved with the Bank of America and its construction manager Jones Lang LaSalle ever since.

After this initial job, Andersen has undertaken a variety of projects, which include maintenance work, renovations of existing branches and facilities, and construction of new banking centers from the ground up.

Andersen’s Bank of America maintenance team has redefined the term “banker’s hours” to mean being on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This maintenance work can range from fixing a door that is hard to open, to changing out all the carpet or casework in an entire branch over a weekend. It can also involve projects that are down right odd. Such as the time when a driver thought he could drive a bus through a covered drive-up ATM station that had a low canopy clearance. Jim Conway got the emergency call to fix the damage and his first order of business was convincing the driver that he needed to let some of the air out of his tires so the bus could be driven out from under the canopy.

Not all work is that exciting but all of the work is demanding. A typical renovation of a banking facility begins when the bank personnel go home for the day and ends about the time the sun comes up. The demands are equally hard for Andersen’s new banking team as they deal with aggressive opening schedules and meeting the stresses that come with building a new bank branch in 2-1/2 to 4 months.

Over the last two years Andersen’s relationship with the Bank of America has grown with over 13 new bank projects recently completed in Idaho, Oregon and SW Washington. The maintenance work is still going strong with Andersen’s maintenance team visiting 86 branches in Oregon in 2004 to roll out the Bank of America Model Banking Project.

The success of this contract is due to Andersen’s dedicated employees who have worked on these projects over the life of this contract. Due to the commitment of these employees the future seems bright as well, with Andersen being considered for several more Bank of America projects slated for construction in 2005. Special thanks to the long list of personnel who have worked on these banks over the years!