CHESTERFIELD, Mo., April 11, 2018– North Peace Savings & Credit Union (NPSCU), a full-service financial organization located in Northeast British Columbia, and NewGround, an innovative design firm, announced that NPSCU received recognition for the top award of excellence in the category of Commerce New—from the Northern BC Commercial Building Awards—for their new service centre in Dawson Creek.
Award recipients had to meet extensive criteria, which included the building or renovation project to complement the surrounding area, be aesthetically pleasing, possess unique architectural features, and meet a specific development need for the local community. Choice in construction materials and the level of finish also determined the award recipients. Environmentally friendly projects were looked upon highly for award consideration.
Together, NPSCU and NewGround developed a new Smart Service Centre, an innovative branch solution with design and technology that is one of a kind in Canada. This feature allows staff in the branch to be freed from the complexity of handling cash so they can focus directly on member needs. Through two Face 2 Face personal teller machines (PTMs), members can connect to live tellers through video banking, delivering a direct personal experience with contact between the member and teller. Free-flowing in nature, technology is leveraged throughout the branch to enhance NPSCU’s brand by ensuring there are no barriers when serving a member’s needs.
This Smart Service Centre has a strong, modern exterior and sits prominently on a standalone pad shared with Starbucks. The lobby is purposefully situated so it is observable to members as they drive up, and catches attention from Starbucks foot traffic as guests pass by. The interior design consists of bold colors, colorful furniture, and a hearth with a screen as a focal point to embody a symbol of warmth, comfort, and shelter. This design combination evokes a sense of feeling at home in an exciting and modern way.
From the dynamic colors and brand, to the exterior design and digital signage, NPSCU members experience banking unlike any other in Canada, nominating it as the top award of excellence winner at the Northern NC Commercial Building Awards.
“Our Dawson Creek Smart Service Centre was designed to offer an inviting atmosphere for members to discuss all of their personal or business financial needs with experts from across our organization”, says Mitchel Chilcott, CEO of North Peace Savings and Credit Union.
“NPSCU winning this distinctive award is truly an honor, and it shows NewGround’s commitment to designing beautiful, innovative, successful spaces to fit our client’s needs,” said Greg Ward, President of NewGround Canada.
About NewGround
NewGround is the industry thought-leader in strategy, innovative design, and project management, and has been for over 100 years. We help financial institutions master the power of their space to create the next generation workplace and retail solutions. At NewGround, we are driven by our core values of: Serving Others, Excellence, Innovation, Collaboration, and Communication. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, NewGround maintains corporate offices in Chicago, Illinois, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Waterloo, Ontario, with a regional presence throughout the U.S. For more information, visit NewGround at www.newground.com.
About North Peace Savings & Credit Union
North Peace Savings & Credit Union (NPSCU) is a full-service financial organization offering retail and business banking, investment and insurance products. Located in Northeast British Columbia, NPSCU has proudly served the north for over 75 years. With 13,000 members amongst its five service centres, NPSCU remains committed to the social and economic well-being within the communities it serves. NPSCU is the recipient of the National Credit Union Innovation Award, Canada and runner up for the Innovation Award through the Credit Union Executive Society.
Media Contact:
Amanda Jasper
636.898.8462
ajasper@newground.com
