Workplace case study

Oregon State Credit Union

Sunset Operations Center | Design Build

the goals

Deliver a new headquarters that promotes unsurpassed member experience, employee passion, and continued financial success

Project Background

Over 60 years, Oregon State Credit Union grew on a foundation of strong values: member focus, integrity, passion, education, cooperative spirit, and social responsibility. They also grew out of their workplace, both in terms of space and strategy. The Oregon State Credit Union team envisioned a new headquarters that would help them connect better to each other, promote employee wellness, and elicit a strong sense of identity and pride in the organization.

Sustainable growth and positive financial impact are two tenants that guided the Oregon State Credit Union headquarters strategy. They needed an integrated project delivery partner who could match their level of precise planning and execution. Ultimately, they chose Momentum as the partner who could best uncover the elements of a more effective and engaging workplace, and help them prove the financial return from their investment.

"The Sunset Operations Center is another example of forward thinking. The building will serve generations of credit union members, even 20 to 30 years from now. We are happy to have Momentum, a local Northwest company, as our partner," - Rick Hein, President & CEO

Values. Connection. Growth.

Successful delivery of a workplace change begins with early and frequent integration of the entire employee team – those who will spend a third of their of their time during the week working, being creative, and building relationships within their new home office. The Momentum design build team spent five days over two months with the credit union’s senior leadership and management groups to identify the elements of a successful workplace project, better understand how the Oregon State Credit Union departments worked together, and visualize how the data gathered from every member of the Oregon State Credit Union team could translate in to a more effective workplace.

This collaboration resulted in a battery of conceptual design directions, and a unique and relevant 3D model of the new credit union headquarters. The design team came up with a V shape building footprint that dramatically increased the amount of daylight coming in to the office and improved workers’ connection to the outdoors. A central connector staircase became a focal point of the building, encouraging mobility as it circulated staff between floors, and helping organize a hierarchy of collaborative and personal workspaces.

The Oregon State Credit Union team’s need for different and more agile types of work areas was clear. “We spaces” were placed throughout the building, varying in size and function, and can be checked out as project rooms for extended periods of time. Many are less formal and provide better opportunities for casual conversation or the ability to work away from one’s desk as a form of mental reprieve.

Ultimately, the new Sunset Operations Center is a tool to help deliver excellent member service. The project includes a new branch, designed to work both as a center for training and development, and as a transition to a more consultative and less formal operating model. Most unique is the building’s community room which can host gatherings of up to 300 people, and provides space for member organizations to meet, and for the entire Oregon State Credit Union community to come together in celebration.

Momentum Moment

Leesman, Momentum’s data partner, surveyed Oregon State Credit Union’s employees on a variety of topics to gain a better picture of the work they do and how their workplace works for them. Momentum and Oregon State Credit Union used this data to objectively design the new headquarters in a way the supports the work employees are doing and provides an atmosphere that is comfortable and inspires productivity. This scientific and inclusive approach not only boosts the employees’ productivity, it also gives them a sense of ownership and pride in their workplace.