Leadership - The Sixth Core Value

CSHQA's core values are incorporated into the interior graphics of our office.

Collaboration | Knowledge | Creativity | Integrity | Excellence
 

These are our core values as discussed, debated and finally selected by CSHQA in December 2012.  It was a challenge to limit to five only. In the end, a few words missed the cut, including Leadership.  We are definitely Leaders.  In design and innovation, in our profession and in our communities. Three recent stories demonstrate what we might call our Sixth Core Value.
 

Helping Clients Win Valuable Grants

Jim Murray, AIA, LEED GA has been assisting Colorado school districts with BEST Grant preparation for five years, even for districts that aren’t our client, and even if they don’t technically owe us the resulting work.  We have a growing record of accomplishing essential projects such as roofing, kitchen remodels and security.  Not glamorous, but very valuable to our clients.  And the conversations are now turning to new schools and classroom additions.  This  May Jim was two for two for districts awarded funds for 2015-2016 projects.  We are already on board for one and hope to win the second, who happens to be talking high school planning in the near future.  Congrats, Jim!

Moving the Needle in Urban Design

In a recent meeting with Boise’s Capitol City Development Corporation [CCDC] Project Managers, Doug Woodruff and Karl Woods, CSHQA received a very nice compliment.  Kent Hanway, John Maulin, Kyle Hemly, Jeff Ward and I were meeting to talk about urban planning and place making projects on CCDC’s agenda.  The conversation turned to our efforts to get approval for diagonal parking and a paver storm-water management system at the Boise building.  Long story short – it took patience and persistence from civil engineer Jeff Ward PE (and others) to bring several agencies to the table and persuade them of our ideas.  Doug Woodruff commented “You are innovators.  You made things happen and moved the needle in [Boise] urban design.”  Our efforts are now examples of best practices and part of the urban took kit.  Jeff modestly says the timing was right. I say Jeff was the right person.

Inspiring Young People to Think Big
Canyon Springs High School in Caldwell is working to broaden horizons and share new experiences with its students.  It is challenging freshman to get out of their comfort zone and visit area businesses for short tours to learn about different professions.  Two small groups of students recently toured CSHQA, learned about our building, and met and talked with staff at their work spaces.  Amy Dockter, PE, Jose Gallegos, AIT and Andrew Lauda, AIT each shared how their early interests in art, music, math, science, drawing and/or engineering led them to their professions.  They explained they didn’t always know what they wanted to do, but they kept looking, kept doing what they really liked, and found ways to add it together.  We know it was inspiring because three students wrote to thank us.

One wants to switch from mechanical engineering to architecture; another, who wants to be a lawyer, listened and asked good questions; and a third, who was a bit shy, really liked the computer animations and found them very interesting.  Sometimes we lead by simply doing.  Thank you, Amy, Jose and Andrew.  –

KK Lipsey is Business Development Director for CSHQA.  She welcomes your comments, feedback and thoughts on leadership, innovation and design.

 

The New Community Bank - It's Hip, Transparent and 'Green'



Pioneer Federal Credit Union incorporates casual lounge space, digital signage and branded messages in their new Broadway branch.

Pioneer Federal Credit Union is taking the meaning of community to new levels.  A new branch bank on Broadway Avenue in Boise reflects PFCU’s recent rebranding with fresh new colors and new marketing strategies to literally bring the community into the bank. Pioneer Federal wanted a space that is open and fresh - a place where people can hang out, access WiFi, and even host a community meeting or event.

Note:  CSHQA provided interior design services, including room layouts, signage and wayfinding, custom lighting fixture design, furniture selection including teller station design, interior finishes, and exterior color branding for the new building.  Architecture design and engineering were provided by others.

A key strategy is to be visible to the customer.  Offices, meeting rooms and the children’s area are enclosed with glass walls.  The exterior walls have large windows, opening the space to see in and out, and to bring in abundant natural light.  This physical transparency supports the concept of banking and financial transparency. 




Pioneer Federal Credit Union, panoramic view from entry

The second strategy is to be closer to the customer.  This meant removing traditional barriers between teller and clients, and inviting clients to enjoy the bank as an amenity, not just a place to rush in and out on an errand. 

Upon entry, clients are greeted at the door and entered into a digital queue.  Rather than stand in line they can wait in the lounge and have a cup of coffee. The teller then calls clients by name to the teller counter.  For this concept to work, the tellers must be visible, yet private.  They are located to the back of the main central space.  Wayfinding is integrated throughout to clarify the layout.



Custom designed teller stations

A third strategy is to align the style and ‘feel’ of the bank with its clients.  Bright green is one of PFCU’s new branded colors.  It is bold, fresh and youthful.  The credit union hopes to attract many of its customers from nearby BSU and the younger and professional demographic groups in the local neighborhood.  The rounded architecture of the building is reflected in the interiors with curved walls and a combination of curved and multi-faceted shapes in finishes and décor.

Proving their commitment to community, Pioneer Federal added a very special amenity:  a large meeting room built specifically to offer meeting space to the community.  The meeting space includes an integrated kitchenette and the restrooms remain accessible when the remainder of the bank is locked.  The curved space hugs and outer wall and like the spaces, the interior wall is full-height glass. 
 

PFCU community meeting room

Elizabeth Thomas, VP of Marketing for PFCU comments "People like the change and the vibrant, energetic colors.  The work space functions efficiently and is comfortable for the team members to work anywhere in the branch.  They enjoy the bank and its high tech look and are proud to promote their branch bank."



Pioneer Federal Credit Union, Broadway Branch, Boise (architecture by others)

Nicole Cecil, NCIDQ, ASID, LEED AP ID+C is the Project Manager and Design Leader of CSHQA's Interior Design Studio.  She has nearly 20 years of experience in matching materials and finishes to her clients' aesthetic style, business needs and project scope.  Her expertise spans many markets including retail, commercial office, healthcare, high-end residential and restaurant.