Accessibility – a Case Study at M&T Bank

K2M partnered with Haris Design and Construction and M&T Bank to provide Accessibility Surveys for M&T Bank throughout the Mid Atlantic. The Surveys were provided in concert with multiple renovations to bank branch locations throughout Maryland and Virginia. The ultimate goal of the assessments and renovations was to ensure all branches were fully accessible to both employees and clients.

K2M’s accessibility experts performed comprehensive surveys of each facility within a tight 6 week timeline. The team performed detailed inspections and surveys of site elements using customized survey forms that blended the Clients requests with jurisdictional and brand requirements for Accessibility. The Team used a strict methodology to capture existing conditions and measure key features of non-compliance, including a site review with sketches and photographs as determined by the project survey team.

Pre-planning and document preparation was integral to the success of the project and the ability to meet the compressed schedule deadline. The K2M team, with M&T Bank’s project manager and the branch managers, had measures in place to make the site surveys as efficient as possible, the following steps were taken to assure project success: obtaining a detailed list of project locations and contact info, a letter of introduction with M&T verification information for branch access, prearranging the team schedule based on branch location proximities, flexing the schedule based on bank operating hours for external and internal surveys, utilizing geographic satellite imaging to identify external accessibility paths of access before stepping foot on the site, along with obtaining as-built documents to expedite the time spent at the site.

The team provided M&T with a final report that provided recommendations on the next steps to be taken into compliance. The design team is currently providing renovations to the surveyed spaces, in addition to providing these services to additional branches in the area.