New corporate headquarters celebrates Mississippi River and Bettendorf community
A 40,200-square-foot facility consolidates Ascentra Credit Union’s administrative functions, previously spread out over several dated buildings. It houses a branch bank on the first floor, open offices on the second and third, and executive suites on the fourth.
The building, one of the tallest in Bettendorf, optimizes views toward the Mississippi River. Curtain walls, an orange tower, and the organization’s distinctive logo announce the Ascentra brand to those approaching Bettendorf on the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge connecting Illinois and Iowa. Moreover, the exterior features a curving roof element inspired by the organization’s logo and other Ascentra facilities. Within the building, the brand becomes apparent in everything from the orange streaks in the carpeting to the cheerful employee photos that decorate partitions and stairwells.
To optimize natural light, designers specified most of the glass on the north and south facades but toned down the glazing on the east and west sides to reduce the impact of the direct (and more distracting) sunlight.
Further connecting Ascentra with the community it serves is the Lensmeyer Learning Center, a seminar/conference room that the organization has opened to local organizations. Floor-to-ceiling glass displays the orange and aqua walls that set the backdrop for the activity within.
The facility has provided efficiencies within each department and has fostered collaboration. There is a heightened sense of culture and more space in which to celebrate it.
Jennifer Naeve, Chief Marketing Officer, Ascentra Credit Union
