Fifth Third Bank announced the grand opening of its Sodo Banking Center located at South Orange Avenue and East Grant Street in Orange County, Fla. The Sodo Banking Center will offer all of Fifth Third Bank’s financial products and services and will serve customers in South Orlando and downtown. Sam Patel is the Sodo Banking Center manager.
The Sodo Banking Center is Fifth Third Bancorp’s first green banking center. The facility was designed to use less energy and water than standard buildings and incorporates a number of other environmentally-advanced features that lessen its impact on the environment. The facility will pursue Gold recognition under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council.
A grand opening celebration is being held on Saturday, May 14, 2011. Festivities will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include food and activities for children. The event is open to the public. Also, the banking center will be collecting food donations benefiting the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Fifth Third Bank’s “Summer of Dreams” program.
“We are excited to open the Company’s first green banking center here in Orlando,” said Karen Dee, Florida regional president of Fifth Third Bank. “Opening this environmentally-progressive facility is an example of Fifth Third’s positive outlook on the future and our commitment to creating a better future for our customers, employees and communities. Sam Patel and his entire staff are eager to serve our South Orlando and downtown customers who can now enjoy the benefits of our quality products and services closer to home and work.”
“The Sodo Banking Center provided our company with experience designing, building and now operating a green banking center,” said William J. Moran, Fifth Third Bancorp’s senior vice president and head of Corporate Facilities. “We look forward to applying the insights gained from its opening to future green construction projects.”
The environmentally advanced features of this building and construction methods include:
· Increased use of insulation and a higher efficiency HVAC system, which are expected to reduce energy use by 18 percent.
· Water efficient bathroom and kitchen features that will reduce indoor water consumption by 30 percent and a micro-irrigation system and drought-tolerant plants that will reduce irrigation water use by 50 percent.
· Renewable energy credits were purchased to provide 100% of its energy from renewable sources.
· 34% of the dollar value of building materials and products were sourced and manufactured within 500 miles, helping to support the local and regional economy.
· Low-emitting materials, paints and carpets were used to reduce the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within the facility.
· Increased ventilation and thermal controls to improve air quality and provide greater thermal comfort.
· Eighty-four percent of all construction-related waste was recycled to minimize the amount of waste send to a landfill.
The banking center project was managed by CB Richard Ellis and designed by ms consultants, inc. The general contractor was Heinkel, Griffin and Rufrano (HGR) Construction, Inc.
Richard Heinkel, president of HGR and treasurer of the central Florida chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, said, “We are pleased to have been awarded and built this project and to have had the opportunity to help Fifth Third Bank build its first facility designed for LEED recognition.”
The Sodo Banking Center will have lobby hours of 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Fridays; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. It will offer drive up hours of 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m – 6 p.m. on Fridays. The branch manager phone number is (407) 541-0555. The Sodo Banking Center is the 48th location for Fifth Third Bank (Central Florida).
