MBank Traders Go On Display

Traders in the capital markets unit of MBank Dallas had better get used to being watched -- and not just by the Fed. In the bank's new 60-story headquarters, known as Momentum Place, the trading room is the center of attention.

Pedestrians who enter the building at street level can look down on the 11,000-square-foot trading floor from a marble bridge. It's also visible from five balconies overlooking the atrium in the 135-foot banking hall.

The room is equipped with Rich Inc.'s Triarch system, which handles both digital and video feeds. There are 77 multi-function keyboards and 152 video monitors.

The programmable phone system manufactured by Contel IPC offers hot-line speed dialing, stores up to 20,000 numbers, and interfaces with the bank's PBX. All calls are recorded and stored by an AAT Communications Corp. Magnasync log recorder.

Contel also supplied an intercom module and a hoot 'n' holler system with mounted microphones and internal speakers for communicating with other MBank branches.

A 34-foot Telegenix inventory board carries news and prices for municipals and governments, CDs, foreign currencies, mutual funds, and stocks.

According to MCorp, MBank's parent, Momentum Place marks the first time a trading floor has served as the focal point for the design of a U.S. bank. The glass and granite building was designed by John Burgee Architects of New York, with Philip Johnson, and Harwood K. Smith & Partners Inc. of Dallas.

MBank took several steps to limit the effects of light and noise on its traders. It installed an electronically controlled mesh screen to reduce glare from the windows of the banking hall, and sound absorption panels to muffle noise.