KALAMAZOO, Mich.–Employees of Consumers Credit Union who had been spread out over four facilities are now working out of the credit union’s new headquarters building.
Designed by the Chicago-based firm HOK, the new facility is home to 150 CCU employees who are working on what HOK described as a 22-acre collaboration center situated among rolling hills and wooded ravines.
“The centerpiece–a contemporary, three-story office evoking its natural surroundings–is designed to bring employees closer together while providing unmatched amenities,” according to the design firm.
“Our new home underscores Consumers’ strong commitment to West Michigan, including its communities and its local economy,” said Kit Snyder, president and CEO of Consumers Credit Union, in a statement. “This new space gives our entire team a place to call home, and a prime location to recruit and train new employees as we continue to grow.”
Consumers and HOK said they collaborated to design the 92,000-square-foot branded environment that expresses the company’s values while fostering collaboration. According to the two organizations, the building accomplishes these goals through several design strategies:
- Open Workspaces, Collaboration and Training: The open floor plan includes modern workstations, informal gathering spaces and a learning lab featuring the latest technology for staff training.
- Central Gathering Space: Employees and visitors enter through a central glass atrium with a grand staircase, connecting all areas of the building.
- Wellness and Amenities: Staff can take advantage of an on-site café, coffee bar, fitness center, fitness and running trail, and expansive outdoor patio overlooking nature.
- Connection to Nature: The building’s form is influenced by its surroundings, from expansive glass walls providing forest views to the intentional use of tree cover along roads leading to the workplace.
To accommodate Consumers’ future growth, HOK said it designed the building to be built in three phases. It can be expanded up to 200,000-square-feet if needed.