ridge view bank headquarters

Roanoke, VA

PROJECT OVERVIEW Reading Time: < 1 minute

A future-ready HQ blending smart tech, modern design, and community banking.

Ridge View Bank, a division of CNB Bank, is bringing fresh energy to community banking — and you can see it in every square foot of their newest space. Over the past five years, CNB has partnered with Element to rethink what a branch can be, beginning with locations in Salem, Virginia, and Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. Similarly, with the latest undertaking — a 20,000-square-foot headquarters in Roanoke — the focus has been on creating spaces that are functional and future-forward. It’s not just a building — it’s a bold move toward modern banking, built to support both day-to-day operations and administrative leadership.

At the heart of this space is a 2,000-square-foot SMART center — a unique banking experience centered around interactive teller machines and a seamless blend of digital and human service. It’s banking that feels smarter because it is smarter, giving customers what they need, when and how they want it. The rest of the building supports the people who make it all happen, including the Ridgeview market president. The result is a space that’s innovative, efficient, and ready to grow with the bank’s overarching goals.

CLIENT

  • Ridge View Bank

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TYPE

  • Bank

FEATURES

  • 20,000 sq. ft. branch and administrative space
  • 25-foot open staircase and atrium between two floors
  • Functional, low-maintenance topographical moss wall to dampen sound while enhancing aesthetic
  • Fully exposed elevator shaft, wrapping around a central staircase and featuring acoustic panels and a back-lit logo.
  • Employee-facing wall featuring the company’s core values
  • Interactive digital SMART wall with touch screens for customer use
  • Separate luxury wealth management area
  • Coffee station with digital screen for customizable content

DELIVERABLES

  • Schematic design and space planning
  • Exterior signage design and implementation
  • Millwork design and implementation
  • Graphic design, including way-finding design and implementation
  • Interior furnishing

the challenge

Three core objectives guided the project:

  1. Bringing local teams together to ensure smooth collaboration across all aspects.
  2. Maintaining design consistency while introducing unique elements for the new headquarters.
  3. Balancing brand identity with a workspace that felt personalized and inspiring for employees.

Element tackled these challenges by handling everything from design through project completion, ensuring smooth communication every step of the way.

Streamlining the process with a single point person allowed the project to stay on track and made it easy to address any issues quickly.

Detailed presentation decks and close work with vendors made sure the final result matched the client’s vision perfectly.

Inside of bank lobby showing chairs and screens
Exterior of bank at night

bringing innovation to banking headquarters

This headquarters project marks the latest milestone in Element’s five-year partnership with CNB, following the completion of Salem and Smith Mountain Lake branches. The goal was to seamlessly blend functionality with design, incorporating Ridge View’s established brand while creating a unique space for employees and bankers. Element worked closely with local architects and contractors to maintain a smooth workflow and ensure alignment across teams.

Key features include a 25-foot atrium with a grand staircase, a topographical vinyl graphic of the Roanoke area with preserved moss for acoustics and visual appeal, a SMART wall for interactive digital displays, a private client solutions area, and a community-focused coffee station with a versatile digital screen. Each design element serves both functional and aesthetic purposes, creating a modern banking hub and an inspiring workspace for employees.

The Element Group has been an outstanding partner over the past five years, consistently taking our vision and transforming it into reality with creativity, precision, and care.

Most recently, I worked closely with Element on our headquarters project in Roanoke, collaborating on branding, furniture and environmental graphics. They introduced fresh concepts that feels both sophisticated and welcoming, creating a comfortable environment our employees enjoy and our customers appreciate. Element’s thoughtful approach and commitment to excellent continues to make a meaningful difference in every project we undertake together.
Kellie Swales
CFMP, AVP/Marketing & Branch Design
CNB Bank
Element has been a tremendous partner in designing our new SMART Center branches. The Element team is thorough, responsive, and composed of subject matter experts when it comes to new branch construction and design. We appreciate their team approach to our branch expansion project!
Michael Anderson
Regional Retail Administrator, Senior Vice President
BankOnBuffalo, a division of CNB Bank

The HQ building is up and running, and the Ridge View market continues to grow — likely thanks to a noticeable presence in Roanoke proper. A call center space has been added to the second floor, which was originally designed for future use. Furniture was also installed and the bank plans to hire and fill more positions soon.