Merced FCU valued collaboration and open communication through every phase of the project, and immediately communicated to NewGround some of the core values and themes they wanted to present throughout the space. They wanted big windows that would let in plenty of natural lighting and wanted a purple color scheme showcased throughout the space. However, they also wanted a space that would blend the complex external zoning and building requirements throughout the interior as well. The city that the branch was being built in required the building’s exterior to match a certain look and feel, described as a “rural agrarian tone.” To accomplish this, the exterior of the space utilized brick, metal, and wooden tones and unique angles that still created a sophisticated look while matching city requirements. They even constructed a silo on the side to hide mechanical condensers and create an interesting focal point for the space. These agrarian themes, along with the purple color scheme, were pulled into the interior of the space with wooden finishes, dark and light purple tones, rustic materials, exposed beams, and unique textures. We also created a back wall illumination to draw eyesight to their logo. Environmental graphic specialists also highlighted Merced FCU’s mission statement and core values.

Merced FCU welcomed their community into the space and wanted them to be closely tied to this new location. To accomplish this, they had a large community room constructed that is wide enough to hold regional meetings and community events. Furthermore, they wanted all visitors, be they members or not, to be able to have ample parking and comfortable access to the space. To accommodate this, NewGround built a separate solar-covered parking area that could fit both visitors and employees, providing them with shaded space. Charging stations for electric vehicles were also included to future-proof the space.