Arvest plans LEED-certified branch at Chestnut, National

According to Arvest Springfield Assistant Vice President and Private Banking Manager Michal Moss Early, the bank bought the approximately three acres for an undisclosed price from developer Mark Gardner, who earlier this year had planned to build a retail development there. Early said Arvest's other plans for the land have not been determined.

The 6,500-square-foot bank will be a full-service branch with four drive-through lanes. No groundbreaking or completion dates have been set, Early said. Arvest was attracted to the location's steady traffic and proximity to downtown, which Early said is prime for more banking options.

The branch will be eligible for U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification, which requires use of sustainable and energy-efficient elements. It will be the second of its kind for Arvest – its first LEED-certifiable branch is being built in Fayetteville, Ark. The company is looking to build other LEED-certified branches throughout its system on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether they're existing or new structures.

"When you get to start from scratch, you get to (build) them the way that you want to do them ideally, so with Springfield we’re going to have the opportunity to do more of these because we’re building from the ground up," Early said. "Sustainability is a big deal. We feel like it’s important to set the example for not only for our customers but for other associates as well.”

Arvest entered the Springfield market in June 2007 with leased space at the Offices of Thornbury Place, 1435 E. Bradford Parkway. Its second branch is under construction now at 2403 W. Republic Road. One or two additional Springfield branches are among Arvest's goals, Early said.