The ICCU Member Service Center West is a five-story office building in Meridian, Idaho, built to bring Idaho Central Credit Union’s Treasure Valley teams under one roof. Create Spaces, then known as OEC, furnished the interiors with Steelcase. Below is the story of how the project came together, in the words of the people who built it.
A Credit Union Out of Room
ICCU began in Boise as a small, state-chartered credit union with 22 members and $300 in assets. By 2021, it served more than 400,000 members across Idaho and Washington. As a result, the credit union had outgrown its space more than once.
ICCU already ran a data center in Chubbuck and a Member Service Center North in Coeur d’Alene. However, its Treasure Valley employees were scattered across many offices. So ICCU decided to bring those teams together in Meridian.
Finding the Site for the ICCU Member Service Center West
CEO Kent Oram watched for the right property for years. When the land became available, he walked the site and marked exactly where the building should stand. ICCU then partnered with Ball Ventures Ahlquist (BVA) and Tommy Ahlquist to develop the project.
“I was able to walk out there with a couple of stakes and drive them in the ground and say, ‘Here’s where I want my building.'”
Kent Oram, CEO, Idaho Central Credit Union
The project moved fast. ICCU went from purchasing the property to opening its doors in 24 to 26 months. BVA expedited the entitlement process, and Okland Construction built the building in about 12 months. Therefore, the building opened roughly a year sooner than expected.
Designed for ICCU and Its Tenants
The building stands five stories tall in the Eagle View Landing development, next to the freeway with views of the Boise foothills. ICCU occupies about half of the building and leases the rest. Because of that, architects at Lombard Conrad designed the building to represent both ICCU and its future tenants.
For example, an outdoor plaza gives every tenant a place to gather and relax. The plaza also reflects ICCU’s long-term commitment to the community.
“What I really like about working with ICCU is that they value the community that they go into. They are building financial institutions that are there for the long term and it shows.”
Mark Heazle, Partner, Lombard Conrad Architects
Inside the Workspace
The building now brings together ICCU’s mortgage, commercial lending, private client, investment, business, and deposit teams. In addition, it houses call center seating to support members across the region.
Floor-to-ceiling glass walls and doors run through the executive offices, bringing in natural light and views. Soundproof wall systems give telebanking staff privacy for virtual member conversations. Furthermore, training rooms and break areas give employees places to learn and connect.
ICCU’s team also visited Steelcase headquarters in Michigan to explore new workplace ideas. As a result, many of those ideas shaped both its Chubbuck data center and the Member Service Center West.
How Create Spaces Furnished the Building
Create Spaces, then operating as OEC, furnished the Member Service Center West with Steelcase furniture. The furniture complements Lombard Conrad’s interior design and the building’s open, glass-filled spaces. Kent Oram credited the team among the project’s key partners.
“Then there was OEC and Steelcase that helped us put all the interiors together. It was a nice project and a lot of partners.”
Kent Oram, CEO, Idaho Central Credit Union
See the full ICCU Member Service Center West photo album.
Poised for Growth Again
ICCU’s leaders used to joke that the credit union was “poised for growth.” Then it grew so much that it nearly ran out of room. After walking through the finished building, Kent Oram summed it up in one line.
“Now when we built that building and I walked through it, it’s like, ‘Ah, we’re poised for growth again.'”
Kent Oram, CEO, Idaho Central Credit Union
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the ICCU Member Service Center West?
The ICCU Member Service Center West is a five-story building in Meridian, Idaho. It sits in the Eagle View Landing development next to the freeway.
How long did the ICCU Member Service Center West take to build?
ICCU went from purchasing the property to opening in 24 to 26 months. Okland Construction completed the building in about 12 months.
Who worked on the ICCU Member Service Center West?
Ball Ventures Ahlquist developed the project, Lombard Conrad Architects designed it, and Okland Construction built it. Create Spaces, then OEC, furnished the interiors with Steelcase.
What did Create Spaces provide for ICCU?
Create Spaces furnished the building with Steelcase furniture designed to complement Lombard Conrad’s interior design.
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