Town & Country Federal Credit Union

More Connected, Every Day.

Town & Country Federal Credit Union (TCFCU), a forward-thinking company, embarked on a journey to create a modern, community-centered office space. They leased a two-story, 20,000-square-foot building with finalized structural details but an otherwise blank canvas. TCFCU prioritized employee engagement and gathered valuable insights from internal focus groups to shape their new office.

Our initial step involved conducting a Vision Clarification workshop with TCFCU’s employees. Here, they not only visualized their impact on the community over the next 15 to 20 years but also learned about innovative workstyles and environments. This workshop was crucial for a successful workplace transformation, aligning with our first tenet: Purpose.

With the enthusiastic involvement of TCFCU’s employees, inspired by their visionary CEO, we designed a workspace that truly reflected the ethos of a community-centered organization.
 The CEO embraced our tenet of “Language” by choosing carefully considered words to describe the new workspace. Rather than "open plan," the workstations near the windows were labeled as "connected, collaborative, and effective." Additionally, the new location was referred to as a "center" to convey its welcoming nature to credit union members. This distinction was essential, as the space wasn't just an "operations center"; it was a member-owned asset for the community.

See also: Town & Country: A Fun Workplace Poised for Growth from Red Thread.

Goodbye, Private Offices.

We devised a workspace layout that featured workstations at the building's perimeter near the large windows and interior solo, huddle, focus, and meeting rooms with extensive floor-to-ceiling glass. The flexibility of demountable and reconfigurable walls provided adaptability. Central to the plan was the "Collab-Café," a multifunctional area where employees could eat, meet, or work. This innovative approach, enthusiastically embraced by the leader, abolished private offices, even for the CEO.

One employee, initially resistant to the change, was a self-proclaimed introvert who cherished the private office she had held for 20 years. Several months after the move, she admitted to becoming a fervent advocate for the new way of working. Her experience spoke volumes: "I had a report to write and was dreading it – figured it would take me 8 hours, at least. I booked a solo room and was done in four hours! I love that I am with my colleagues and feel much more connected to the work I do every day."

TCFCU’s office transformation embodies the successful integration of purpose, language, and forward-thinking design, fostering a dynamic and community-focused workplace for the future.