Northpointe银行的住宅贷款业务的持续增长推动了对新空间的需求。Northpointe委托Ghafari将原Cascade Commons的老旧、几乎空置的91,000 SF建筑改造成一个创新的全国性运营中心，供其住宅贷款和服务小组使用。

Northpointe Bank’s continued growth in its residential lending offerings drove the demand for a new space. Northpointe engaged Ghafari to transform the former Cascade Commons, aging, nearly vacant 91,000 SF building into an innovative national operations hub for their residential lending and servicing groups.

在动笔之前，我们制定了一个路线图，以深入了解Northpointe的关键业务驱动因素，这将直接影响工作场所的功能。这个路线图提供了对Northpointe的房地产、人员和技术的整体理解。由此，我们设计了一个沉浸式的内部和外部体验，平衡了多样化的工作方式和高科技的会议空间，以及吸引人的社交空间，以预测一个成长中的公司的需求。

Prior to putting pen to paper, we developed a roadmap to deeper understand Northpointe’s key business drivers, which would directly affect the functionality of the workplace. This roadmap offered a holistic understanding of Northpointe’s real estate, people, and technology. From there, we designed an immersive interior and exterior experience, balancing diverse workstyles and high-tech meeting space, with engaging social spaces that anticipate the needs of a growing company.

大量的自然光和模仿密歇根州大自然的设计选择在设计的成功中发挥了关键作用。Ghafari借鉴了一个巨大的内部天窗的改造，该天窗横跨整个建筑的深度–这是建筑过去的一个重要元素，现在是Northpointe未来的新动力和象征。

Vast amounts of natural light and design choices that mimic Michigan nature played a key role in the design’s success. Ghafari drew upon the renovation of a massive interior skylight that spans the entire depth of the building – a key feature that is a major element of the building’s past, now a renewed driver and symbol of Northpointe’s future.

除了早期的战略思考，该项目一个关键的成功案例是早期引入的总承包商Visser兄弟公司。Visser也是最初Cascade Commons设施的承包商，提供了丰富的历史和对原始设计和施工方法的理解。

In addition to early strategic thinking, a key success story of the project was the early introduction of the General Contractor, Visser Brothers Inc. Visser was also the contractor for the original Cascade Commons facility, offering a wealth of history and understanding of the original design and construction methods.

Northpointe运营中心是对一个被忽视的建筑的灵活和创造性改造。作为一个充满活力和前瞻性的工作场所，该设施提升了Northpointe的使命，即 “通过为他们所服务的人和社区带来价值和创新，同时通过协作、高性能和多元化的公司文化提供真正的价值，成为美国最好的银行”。现在已经完成，它拥有以人为本的品质，同时提高了标准，为西密歇根的真实工作场所提供了一条道路。

The Northpointe Operations Center is a flexible and creative transformation of a neglected building. As a dynamic and forward-thinking workplace, this facility elevates Northpointe’s mission “to be the best bank in America by bringing value and innovation to the people and communities they serve while delivering real value through a collaborative, high-performance and diverse company culture.” Now complete, it boasts human-focused qualities while simultaneously raising the bar and forging a path for authentic workplace offerings in West Michigan.

Architects: Ghafari Associates, LLC
Area: 91000 ft²
Year: 2020
Photographs: James John Jetel
Manufacturers: Sherwin-Williams, Wolf Gordon, Milliken, Murals Wallpaper, Rebel Walls
Contractors: Visser Brothers Inc.
Design:Michael Lubbers
Interior Design:Deanna Klopcic
Architects:Adam Nelson, Matthew Christie, Meghan Frederick
Lighting Design:Miory Kightlinger
Structural Engineering:Jeff Mitchell
Electrical Engineering:Gregory Enos
Mechanical Engineering:Scott Bernth
City:Grand Rapids
Country:United States