The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod hosted a celebration Monday, July 19, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its founding and the grand reopening of its newly renovated headquarters.
Bank employees, board members, clients and members of the community marked the occasion with a reception, tours and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Founded on July 19, 1921, as a mutual bank, The Coop has remained true to its commitment of serving the Cape Cod community for the past century. In the months leading up to this week’s anniversary, the bank honored that tradition by donating $100,000 among 37 nonprofit organizations, including $10,000 each to Calmer Choice, Cape Cod Children’s Place, WE CAN and YMCA Cape Cod.
“Our history is synonymous with the history of the Cape and this is an exciting milestone as it signifies what The Coop has meant to generations of Cape Codders,” said Lisa Oliver, president and CEO of The Coop. “The way people bank has evolved tremendously over the past century, and we’ve evolved with it, but our roots as a community bank have never wavered. We will continue to help customers open businesses, buy homes, plan for their golden years, or open first savings accounts. We’ve been a trusted partner, all while supporting nonprofit organizations across the Cape.”
The Coop will usher in its next century with a renovated headquarters. The 37,000 square-foot building at 25 Benjamin Franklin Way in Hyannis has undergone an interior transformation over the past 18 months as it now welcomes employees back to a post-pandemic work life.
The hallmark of the new space is a “resimercial” design – an open, airy culture filled with natural light, beachy aesthetics, comfortable seating and greenery, all meant to bring a bit of “home” into the office. Workers also have “flex” work spaces, meaning that in addition to a permanent work station, they have the ability to work anywhere in the building, including the outdoor patio.
“The entire space has been designed to foster collaboration, innovation and wellbeing, which will translate into best-in-class service for our clients,” said Oliver. “One of our goals was to create an environment that allows employees to work from multiple locations, inside and out, which we’ve done through thoughtful design and state-of-the-art technology. We didn’t want to just transform the office, we wanted to transform the way our employees collaborate, and we had terrific partners who understood our vision and brought it to life.”
Other features of the new headquarters include a fitness center with locker rooms, electric car charging spots, multi-purpose conference room, wellness rooms, an outdoor patio with a pergola, phone booths for employees to make private calls, and upgraded, ergonomically correct furniture. Work cafes, “huddle rooms”, and other informal meeting spaces are meant to encourage collaboration and communication.
The overall design, with its neutral tones and nautical accents, is meant to bring a bit of the outdoor Cape Cod landscape inside. Local artwork is featured throughout, including pieces by photographer Max Mattei and artist Lauren DiFernando of The Nines Gallery. The main café features a large fireplace surrounded by driftwood.
Catalyst Architecture & Interiors in Yarmouth led the renovation design efforts while Dellbrook JKS led the construction. Other vendors included Red Thread, Baxter NYE, Grifith & Vary, Plant it Earth, and Compass Project Management.
Clients and members of the community are invited to join the weeklong 100th anniversary celebration through July 24 at all of the bank’s branches. Each day, the branches will be offering treats and prizes, including a daily gift certificate to a local business. For more on the festivities, visit mycapecodbank.com/100reasons.
