Credit Union Banks on Kalwall
Christmas was just past, but there was little cheer in the voices of the seven standing around a pot-bellied stove in January 1932. Deep in the Great Depression, the only thing more scarce than money was affordable credit, and they knew they would have to work together to save Goshen, Indiana. That's when the seven pooled what little they had – a grand total of $19.50 – and organized Farm Bureau Credit Union (FBCU).
Today, that same "people helping people" philosophy has built FBCU into one of Indiana's largest: over 40,000 member owners and $300 million in assets. And to help members even more, FBCU recently opened a new, main office complex (55,000 square feet over two floors plus a lower level) in downtown Goshen.
In designing the structure, architect and Goshen native Daniel Cripe of Leedy/Cripe Architects considered the property's history. The credit union's overall curvilinear shape imitates the silos that had been part of a one-time co-op on the 2.3-acre site at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Second Street. Cripe examined other old commercial buildings in the city that suggested design elements such as arches above windows; terra cotta-colored brick with green, patina accents; and exposed steel inside and out.
But joining the past to the future – and showering the credit union's central atrium in controlled, natural daylight – is the 121-foot by 23-foot, low-profile, Kalcurve™ Skyroof by Kalwall Corporation that connects the front and main entrances. The atrium includes a member reception and resource area, teller windows, member services offices, and the marketing department. A cyber café provides free coffee, two Internet-equipped computers, newspapers and magazines, a large flat-screen TV for the latest news, and a play area with toys, books, cartoons and children's movies. With the lobby's wood accents and a floor patterned and colored to resemble Goshen's surrounding farm fields, the controlled daylight of Kalwall warms an open space designed with future expansion in mind.
Cripe has used Kalwall translucent systems in previous projects with excellent results. "I chose lightweight, structurally sound Kalwall for the canopy and Kalcurve Skyroof because I knew we could rely on its insulation and light-filtering properties to achieve the desired results. Within the main building, natural daylight is evenly dispersed throughout the building with no hot spots. The translucent skylight and canopy literally glow from within when backlit at night, drawing attention to the credit union. Because the panels are available with different insulation and light transmission values, we were able to specify no insulation in the canopy panels, but a U-value of .29 for the Skyroof." Adds Bob Schrock, CEO of project design/builder DJ Construction Co., Inc., "We have been pleased with the performance of Kalwall products on a number of our projects, including our own corporate office building."
Beyond the credit union's first level, an elevator and grand staircase lead to the second-floor loan and accounting departments as well as conference rooms and boardrooms in an adjacent area. Here an additional atrium brings natural daylight to the lower level call center as well as financial records, research, and employee training areas.
In stark contrast with more traditionally designed financial institutions, the controlled daylight of Kalwall creates a happier, healthier atmosphere at FBCU. The diffuse daylight eliminates glare off computer screens, reducing eyestrain for credit union workers and members alike. A decreased need for artificial light also cuts down on energy costs, savings that can be returned to members of the not-for-profit credit union. Kalwall can daylight large, interior spaces, such as the FBCU lobby, while its superior insulating properties control unnecessary heat gain or loss, thereby lowering HVAC system expenses.
Just as Kalwall diffuses sunlight into the building during the day, interior lighting is transmitted back to the outside when the sun goes down. The translucent panels of a Kalwall canopy gently illuminate the four-lane drive-up/ATM area for member safety and security. Preventing direct-beam illumination from escaping the building, thereby not contributing to light pollution, is just one of many ways that Kalwall lives up to its "green" reputation.
Born of desperation during some of the last century's darkest days, Farm Bureau Credit Union faces a bright future in this century. And having already used Kalwall with great success in its other credit union buildings in the Goshen area, FBCU clearly wants Kalwall to be a part of that future.
Farm Bureau Credit Union
Architect: Leedy/Cripe Architects
DesignBuilder: DJ Construction Co. Inc.
Photo by Michael Dailey, Dailey Photography
For more information, contact:
Bruce Keller
Kalwall Corporation 603-627-3861 (800-258-9777 N. America)
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