Tisdale Credit Union Productive Interior

FTLComm - Tisdale - Thursday, October 4, 2001

The commercial and public workplace of today has changed and with that in mind, the Tisdale Credit Union set in motion a major renovation of the entire facility. This is the general manager's office with its pleasant corner windows. Before the project began this was the building's main entrance. The designer who developed the concept of this building wants the building itself to speak to the visitor of confidence and reliability. The impressive exterior is mirrored inside. But the building is being transformed not only to look different, but to function differently as well.

Perhaps no other area suggests this major shift in the way a bank does business than the picture above. On the left we see the newly carpeted area that will become the waiting room, a social place for coffee and atmosphere. Blended into this picture, on the right, is the little cubicle that is right off the waiting area, a place for a customer use computer that will have Internet access, so that customers can sample online banking and other services. The reception area is shown here with its cleverly designed counter and relatively open work station. (We must appologise to the receptionist as this picture caught her a bit off guard as the manager Betty Bauhuis explained the environment this picture was taken.)

The classic design is seen throughout the interior giving the whole inside of the building a theme and ties the various functions of the institution together. Here the accounting staff can back up the tellers with their low eye level work spaces allowing them visibility and just on the left hand side, you can see a teller window that has seats, so that customers can sit down and do what has to be down, beside the five teller stations for walk up customers. The impressive new furniture is designed to meet the needs of simplicity and function.

But clutter is reduced with hidden enclosed electrical and communications connections. The elegant entrance to the building is just as impressive from the inside as it is from outside and gives the building a certain grandness. The outstanding permanent floor has been retained in the high traffic areas and new carpeting covers the rest of the space, keeping down the sound levels. It is clear that addressing the changing needs of the

customer has a high priority, but it is also clear that there is a deliberate attempt to create a pleasant and productive work environment for the folks who work here. This new work station is one of the best examples, the articulated keyboard and work space can be at a wide range of levels and angles, even allowing the worker to stand and work. Each station will have its own lighting and is designed to be a place that offers the worker not only a pleasant surrounding, but also one that is varied and ergonomic, with reduced sound levels and a natural place to work. Even the cubicles in the loans area are about 70% larger than similar space in buildings like SGI's offices. By increasing the space within the work station, the Dilbert mentality of working in a cubicle is reduced and the employee has a feeling of self worth and is positively motivated. Throughout the building, new furniture and smart design is evident. The project is far from complete as offices are altered, a conference room is to be developed with high tech functionality incorporated into its design. This is a remarkable undertaking and shows excellent foresight by management and the Board to recognise the need to accommodate change and the vision to try concepts that will improve the ability of the staff to get their work done and provide their customers with the best service possible.