The start of any project journey begins with strategy and design. For this flagship location, Education First FCU asked NewGround to create a design that would closely match the look and feel of their recently built main office building. The inside, however, needed to feel warm and inviting, a fresh take for their members that could help push the overall brand forward. The team created this by designing a space with high ceilings that created an open space up through multiple stories. Wood finishes helped create that cozy feeling Education First FCU was looking for, while the environmental graphics package created an industrial and modern look brought about by fusing different materials, turf styles, patterns, and colors. A full furniture package completed the look and helps welcome in members.

In terms of the functionality of the site, Education First FCU wanted to try a new model for their clients to interact with. Instead of live tellers and teller stations, they instead wanted to implement interactive teller machines tied closely back to their main systems. The designs had to be uniform, cohesive, and include touch points for clients to guide them to where they needed to go, with the help of staff still on-site to assist.

Lastly, the client wanted a community/training room that could be used by external groups after hours. This space was built to handle a large number of seating possibilities depending on the group size and meeting type and was crafted to operate completely independently of the main branch for after-hours use. A large parking area was also built to accommodate visiting members and community meetings.