A conversation between two bicycle club friends — one who works at Susquehanna Bank in Lititz and the other at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in Lancaster —  turned into a mural project for several illustration majors.

Three illustrators who graduated from PCA&D last week were putting the finishing touches on a Lititz mural Thursday morning when it was dedicated. The theme of the mural depicts the town's heritage.

Painted on a wall that is 10 feet high and 150 long, the mural can be seen in front of the Susquehanna Bank Mill Building located on North Lane, between Route 501 and North Cedar Street, in Lititz. Covering 1,500 square feet, the mural took a year to complete.

Ed Gower, assistant vice president facilities manager for Susquehanna Bank, and Robert Hochgertel, chair of the illustration department at PCA&D, pooled their employers' resources to embark on the project.

Illustration major Seth Pala created the mural concept, while Allison Farris was also part of the mural concept process that began in the summer of 2011. Fellow students Alicia Jagels and Kelly Geiges created the drawings and designs for arches. Class of 2012 alumni Pala, Jagels and Geiges, along with several faculty members, painted final details Thursday.

An archway theme was developed as the arches and wall on which they are painted seem to support the upper level parking area. Inside each arch there are images of local landmarks and well-known people who depict Lititz's past and present.

One arch depicts business people in front of the old paper mill, the building that Susquehanna bank offices now occupy. Between the arches visitors will find flora and fauna of Lititz and the surrounding region.  A Moravian star, Wilbur Buds chocolate confections and Sturgis pretzels are among the motifs used in the mural.

The art college and bank already had a relationship before Gower and Hochgertel talked about the project. Art students from the college create a brochure for an annual event sponsored by the Lancaster Bicycle Club, said Mary Rankin Stadden, PCA&D director of public relations. The event held in August is called the Covered Bridge Metric Century, a 100-kilometer ride.

PCA&D, founded in 1982, is a nonprofit professional art college, offering bachelor's degrees in graphic design, illustration, fine art and photography and certificate programs in digital photography, print and Web design. The college also offers continuing education classes for adults, teens and youth. The college houses a professional gallery featuring works by regionally- and nationally-acclaimed artists.

Susquehanna Bank, one of Pennsylvania's three largest banks, is headquartered in the Mill Building. Its corporate offices serve businesses and consumers through 260 branch offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia. The bank is a subsidiary of Susquehanna Bancshares Inc., a financial services holding company with assets of about $17.8 billion.