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October 20. 2012 8:53PM
Employees began moving into Service Credit Union's massive new corporate headquarters on Lafayette Road in Portsmouth on last week. (GRETYL MACALASTER/Union Leader Correspondent)
Service Credit Union expands into new corporate office
Employees began moving into Service Credit Union's massive new corporate headquarters on Lafayette Road in Portsmouth on last week. (GRETYL MACALASTER/Union Leader Correspondent)
PORTSMOUTH — The glass facade of the new Service Credit Union headquarters graces the Route 1 gateway of the city as if it is in a much larger city.
The massive building near fire station 2 began receiving employees last week after celebrating a grand opening and public tours.
The grounds behind the building have been landscaped with benches and a short trail for employees to enjoy on their lunch break.
Inside the entrance, a time capsule was placed into a block of the granite walls to be opened in 50 years.
The capsule includes a proclamation from Gov. John Lynch delivered Oct. 12 during a grand opening ceremony declaring the day “Service Credit Union Day” in the state.
Service Credit Union first opened its doors in 1957 on Pease Air Force Base under the name Portsmouth Air Force Base Federal Credit Union to serve military and civilian employees there.
It has grown from eight original members to 168,000 members with branches in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Germany.
Before construction of the new 100,000-square-foot corporate office building at 3003 Lafayette Road this year, the credit union was headquartered down the road in a cramped, 19,000-square-foot building.
The new headquarters, built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, was designed by the architectural firm of GUND Partnership of Cambridge, Mass. Construction was managed by Suffolk Construction of Boston.
Service Credit Union said the new and current corporate offices will accommodate present and expected future job growth over the next 10 to 15 years. The new building set on 17 acres will immediately house more than 100 employees, including 60 new positions with plans for another 40 or more jobs over the next five years.
The four-story building features a full-service, 24/7 live person contact center, foreign exchange, member check imaging, processing and control, finance, marketing, conference rooms, and departmental and executive offices. The space also features three community rooms that will be offered for use by local city government, nonprofit organizations and other community-based groups.
“The design embodies Service Credit Union's values of service to the citizens of New Hampshire, its members, its employees and the credit union's commitment to environmental stewardship,” Service Credit Union's chief executive officer Gordon Simmons said.
Some of the elements that helped the building meet LEED certification include a light-colored roof to reflect sunlight and produce heat gain, geothermal heating and cooling, solar hot water heating and reduced water usage.
The credit union is honoring its history and its community involvement through a new museum inside the new building.
Lynch said Service Credit Union is a “model organization” in New Hampshire that sets the standard for all New Hampshire companies. He spoke of the credit union's commitment to its members, employees, military veterans and the community at large.
Lynch said in his tenure as governor the state has experienced three 100-year flood events, a tornado, an earthquake and a tropical storm.
“After each of these natural disasters, the first call I get is from Gordon Simmons and he wants to know how he can help,” Lynch said. “On behalf of the people of New Hampshire … thank you.”
Gretyl Macalaster may be reached at gmacalaster@newstote.com.
The massive building near fire station 2 began receiving employees last week after celebrating a grand opening and public tours.
The grounds behind the building have been landscaped with benches and a short trail for employees to enjoy on their lunch break.
Inside the entrance, a time capsule was placed into a block of the granite walls to be opened in 50 years.
The capsule includes a proclamation from Gov. John Lynch delivered Oct. 12 during a grand opening ceremony declaring the day “Service Credit Union Day” in the state.
Service Credit Union first opened its doors in 1957 on Pease Air Force Base under the name Portsmouth Air Force Base Federal Credit Union to serve military and civilian employees there.
It has grown from eight original members to 168,000 members with branches in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Germany.
Before construction of the new 100,000-square-foot corporate office building at 3003 Lafayette Road this year, the credit union was headquartered down the road in a cramped, 19,000-square-foot building.
The new headquarters, built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, was designed by the architectural firm of GUND Partnership of Cambridge, Mass. Construction was managed by Suffolk Construction of Boston.
Service Credit Union said the new and current corporate offices will accommodate present and expected future job growth over the next 10 to 15 years. The new building set on 17 acres will immediately house more than 100 employees, including 60 new positions with plans for another 40 or more jobs over the next five years.
The four-story building features a full-service, 24/7 live person contact center, foreign exchange, member check imaging, processing and control, finance, marketing, conference rooms, and departmental and executive offices. The space also features three community rooms that will be offered for use by local city government, nonprofit organizations and other community-based groups.
“The design embodies Service Credit Union's values of service to the citizens of New Hampshire, its members, its employees and the credit union's commitment to environmental stewardship,” Service Credit Union's chief executive officer Gordon Simmons said.
Some of the elements that helped the building meet LEED certification include a light-colored roof to reflect sunlight and produce heat gain, geothermal heating and cooling, solar hot water heating and reduced water usage.
The credit union is honoring its history and its community involvement through a new museum inside the new building.
Lynch said Service Credit Union is a “model organization” in New Hampshire that sets the standard for all New Hampshire companies. He spoke of the credit union's commitment to its members, employees, military veterans and the community at large.
Lynch said in his tenure as governor the state has experienced three 100-year flood events, a tornado, an earthquake and a tropical storm.
“After each of these natural disasters, the first call I get is from Gordon Simmons and he wants to know how he can help,” Lynch said. “On behalf of the people of New Hampshire … thank you.”
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Gretyl Macalaster may be reached at gmacalaster@newstote.com.
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