August 29, 2012

PNC Bank Looking to Expand Princeton Shopping Center Branch

LAUNCHING A NEW SEASON: McCarter Theatre’s second annual block party last week featured food, prizes, activities for kids, and music by the Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra. In this week’s Town Talk, some participants talk about their favorite McCarter productions. (Photo by Emily Reeves)

PNC Bank has plans to build a 4,020 square-foot new location on the site of its current, drive-through bank in Princeton Shopping Center. The new branch, which still needs approvals, is targeted to open in late 2013.

Currently, PNC has a storefront bank branch within the North Harrison Street shopping center as well as the drive-through location at the other end of the complex. The new construction would replace the freestanding drive-through site, and the branch within the shopping center would be moved to the new location.

According to PNC spokesman Fred Solomon, the new building will be “green” construction. “The expectation is that the new branch, like all recently built free-standing PNC branches, will be in our signature style, which is all LEED-certified,” he said. “PNC committed a number of years ago to all-green construction.”

The new location would have three drive-through lanes. The current building would be demolished to make way for the new construction. The architect for the project is listed on the plans as Gensler, who has designed all of PNC’s signature branch buildings as well as its large plaza in Pittsburgh and another building in Washington, D.C. But local architects sometimes consult on construction, Mr. Solomon said.

PNC’s preliminary plans for the building have been reviewed once, but more information is necessary before the formal approval process begins. Once resubmitted with the required information, the proposal would go before Princeton’s Site Plan Review Advisory Board (SPRAB) and Regional Planning Board, and a public hearing would be held.

PNC is headquartered in Pittsburgh. The bank has numerous branches in New Jersey. The newest is located in Yardville. “New branches are constantly under construction,” said Mr. Solomon, “as we consolidate old branches and open in locations where we see greater growth.”