10/08/2026
We won an award!
LED received an Honorable Mention for Bank Independent's Operations Center at AIA Alabama's Excellence in Design Awards this past weekend. This is one of the largest projects LED has worked on, and it had a lot of unique characteristics. We feel honored that the hard work of everyone involved has been recognized statewide.
Owner: Bank Independent, Member FDIC
Collaborating Architect: KPS Group
Interior Designer: ASD | Sky
Contractor: Robins & Morton
Photo credit: Edward Badham
"Bank Independent's Team Campus is the first step towards revitalizing an area that has been abandoned for decades. Located on land formerly owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the 97,419-square-foot glass building brings together 234 Bank Independent team members from five locations into one shared workplace designed for collaboration, efficiency, and long-term growth. The people in the adjacent cities of Muscle Shoals and Sheffield hope the Team Campus will be a catalyst that brings businesses to an underused area that sits at the intersection of Highway 72 and the Tennessee River.
"The glass exterior of the building was designed to reflect the existing trees and blend into the wooded surroundings. This minimizes the visual weight of the building, and protecting the trees reduces the building's impact on its environment.
"Connecting the inside to the outside environment was a key design goal. The large curtain wall windows provide daylighting and views to the interior. Outdoor seating areas on patios and balconies give staff access to the outdoors at all levels of the building.
"The inside of the building has two multi-story atria with colorful, hanging sculptures. The ground floor has a cafe, exercise rooms, and multi-purpose rooms. The upper floors have a large, open office space on each side of the central atrium. Adjacent to the open office spaces are smaller enclosed offices, numerous conference rooms, and huddle rooms. Providing plenty of natural light and a multitude of different types of work areas creates a positive and flexible work environment."
