New SAFE Federal Credit Union operations center opens in South Carolina
Design Collaborative delivers a Workplace that improves efficiency and the member experience
SUMTER, SC (January 13, 2021) — The new 38,700-square-feet, two-story SAFE Federal Credit Union (SAFE FCU) Operations Center in Sumter, South Carolina, recently opened for its employees and members. As SAFE FCU continues to grow in the midlands of South Carolina, the new operation center was designed to help successfully bring together leadership, administrative, and call center teams under one roof to enable greater collaboration and a better overall member experience.
Design Collaborative worked closely with the SAFE FCU leadership team to address the issues with the previous administrative space, including capacity, workflow, efficiency, and growth challenges. Through the new operations center’s strategic design, as well as Design Collaborative’s proprietary Fingerprint™ Process, the design team successfully solved their efficiency, occupancy, and collaboration challenges in support of their operational and member experience goals.
The new facility includes ample office and work areas, several conference and meeting rooms, multiple training areas, and collaborative work areas. One floor is dedicated to the call center teams that empower better member interaction and support, as well as a shell space primed for expansion for their growing team. The departments were carefully planned with adjacencies to improve functionality across Operations for the Credit Union, improving their workflow and cross team collaboration. Comfortable and striking amenities for employees include a community hub, a large outdoor and covered patio, a coffee bar with a lounge area, and a gym that includes private showers.
“We’ve had the great opportunity to work with SAFE FCU on multiple projects now, and seeing the new operations building come online knowing how transformative it will be for them is extremely exciting,” stated Adam James, RA, associate partner and financial market leader for Design Collaborative. “Bringing their team together in a more functional environment and providing the spaces needed in today’s workplace will be a game-changer for their operations, and we’re excited to see the great things SAFE FCU will accomplish in the years to come.”
About SAFE Federal Credit Union
SAFE Federal Credit Union, founded in 1955, is the largest credit union based in the Midlands, with $1 billion in total assets, 124,000 members, and 17 branches. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in Sumter, Lee, Clarendon, Kershaw, and Florence counties, as well as parts of Richland, and Lexington counties. Membership is also open to employees of more than 500 companies located throughout the Midlands and relatives of those eligible to join. Connect with us at www.SAFEfed.org, on Facebook.com/SAFEfederalcreditunion or @SAFEFCU
About Design Collaborative
Focused on people-first places, Design Collaborative is an award-winning Top 100 A/E architectural, engineering, and interior design firm headquartered in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a second office in North Carolina. The firm serves clients across education, healthcare, workplace, financial, industrial. and community markets across 14 states. Founded in 1992, the firm’s mission remains to improve people’s worlds through its people, passion, and process. Recently completed projects include: Skyline Tower, ORNL Federal Credit Union’s Corporate Office, St. Rita’s Medical Center Surgery Center, Promenade Park, and Indiana Wesleyan University’s Football Stadium. To learn more about Design Collaborative, please visit the website.
