Chemcel Federal Credit Union

SUMMARY

In 1951, Chemcel Federal Credit Union was established to serve the employees of Celanese, one of the world's largest chemical manufacturing companies. Today, they’ve broadened their scope to serve residents in the surrounding areas.

Operating one of their locations in a 44 year-old building in Corpus Christi, Texas, Chemcel Federal Credit Union decided it was time to modernize this popular branch and turned to La Macchia Group for a full remodel.

It was important to Chemcel FCU that this branch stay open for business during all phases of the project, so La Macchia Group divided the remodel into stages so the branch never fully closed for service.

Chemcel FCU’s Corpus Christi building was originally built in the late 1970s as a utilities payment center and office, and intentionally designed as simply and economically as possible. Window and daylighting were at a minimum and the space was stark and uninviting. Not many changes were made when the space was converted into a Credit Union, and Chemcel FCU had a vision to make the space more inviting for members, and at the same time, utilize unused space more efficiently. As you can imagine, a 44 year-old building would require some maintenance, which was also addressed during the project. Additional windows and daylighting were incorporated to brighten up the space which is a key component to employee wellness.

Transforming the exterior of the branch was also a big part of the project.
With the addition of stone, an exterior paint color refresh, and updated signage allowed Chemcel FCU to completely transform the building in an economical manner.

Chemcel FCU also integrated Vivalociti into their interior with the addition of digital displays that were strategically placed within the lobby area. Equipped with audio, the displays will feature custom Chemcel FCU content and local happenings.

When asked about his experience with La Macchia Group, Michael Engel, CEO of Chemcel Federal Credit Union said “I have worked with several design-build firms throughout a 40-year plus credit union career and can confidently say that La Macchia Group provided exceedingly high-quality project design-execution during the remodel. I look forward to working with La Macchia Group on any future projects.”