M&T Bank was founded in 1856 and is headquartered in Buffalo, NY. With over 1000 branches across 13 states along the East Coast, M&T is known for its community focused approach to banking.
The Challenge
M&T Bank acquired the building at 301 West Plank Road in Altoona, PA in 2000. The architectural metal roof and siding were blue, which did not align with M&T’s corporate colors. The challenge was to find a durable coating solution that matches M&T Bank’s green brand color and that would provide long term color retention.
Additionally, the building would need to remain open during the application of the coatings and any disruption to the bank operations would need to be minimized.
The Acrymax Solution
With color retention and long-term durability being prime considerations, the Acrymax team immediately suggested the use of AF-5500 Fluoropolymer Coating. This advanced coating, developed with Kynar Aquatec® technology, provides exceptional weather resistance, UV stability, and color vibrancy—qualities that are critical for high-profile projects such as this one. The AF-5500 ensures that the building’s striking green roof maintains its appearance over time, reinforcing the strength and consistency of M&T Bank’s brand identity.
The project’s design included the thoughtful integration of M&T’s corporate color palette to reinforce brand recognition. The distinctive corporate green crowns the building’s roof, making a bold and unmistakable visual statement. To complement this, a mix of bronze, dark brown, and almond tones were applied to the metal panels, window frames, and exterior trim. These hues not only create contrast with the tan brick façade but also reflect and enhance the building’s architectural character striking a balance between brand visibility and contextual harmony. All of the colors used on this project were custom matched to the colors chosen by the client.
EADS Architects was responsible for developing a feasibility study, final design and cost estimate for the project. They also served as the project’s general manager, conducting regular meetings with the project players to make sure everything ran smoothly, and any problems were addressed in a timely manner.
Given the heavy foot traffic at the Altoona M&T Bank branch, serving hundreds of customers and employees six days a week—it was essential to select a high-quality, conscientious applicator to ensure the job was executed with minimal disruption to bank operations. Acrymax recommended Harry Bell Painting—a company we’ve partnered with for many years. Their team has been a trusted collaborator, ensuring that Acrymax’s AF-5500 Fluoropolymer coatings were applied correctly and in full accordance with specifications. They did a superb job.
The Result
Eric Rowles, Vice President and Property Manager, M&T Bank stated, “We had a lot of confidence in Acrymax, EADS Architects and Bell Painting going into the project. They all provided clear rationale behind their recommendations, communicated well throughout the entire process, and quicky resolved any minor concerns we had. After the project’s completion, we received many positive comments from employees at the branch, and the response from our corporate office was, ‘Wow…we love it!’ which is a testament to the great work.”
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