CEFCU building plans revealed

The Germantown Hills CEFCU member center located in Germantown Crossing will move to the lot approximately 500 feet west of the shopping center next fall.

Terry Lake, regional vice president of CEFCU, said the plans to build the new 4,500-square-foot member center are in motion. The building will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified. Lake summarized the steps CEFCU will take to receive LEED certification.

“Some examples are more recycled products than perhaps in a standing building; how the product and the waste from the site is handled; all of the paints, glues and anything that would have an odor to it is low on volatile organic compounds; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning efficiencies,” Lake said.

The center, located in Germantown Crossing, is only 650 square feet, which means the new center will expand on that by approximately seven-fold. The new center will also include drive-up and e-services.
E-services in this case means providing help with online banking.

“Any questions on how that (online banking) works, we can show them rather than tell them how that works,” Lake said.

Lake indicated that the choice to build a location did not involve direct communication from Germantown Hills residents. Rather, CEFCU’s choice is a proactive one.

Giann Walker, regional vice president of the member centers, added that the center will include a tell area lobby. She explained the decision to move locations is in part due to the commitment CEFCU maintains to the Germantown Hills community.

“Well, we’ve been in that area for quite some time,” Walker said.

“And individuals that work with that office are involved in the Germantown Chamber of Commerce. So, we have a good group of members that frequent that office.”

CEFCU officials expect to see a drawing of the project in two weeks. Curious members can see the drawing for an idea of what the building will look like by visiting the corporate office at 5401 Everett McKinley Dirksen Pkwy. in Peoria.

However, Lake compared the design of the future building to that of a current CEFCU office.

“It actually is going to look just like our Chillicothe office, kind of a Frank Lloyd Wright-type design,” she said.

Building will take place through the spring and summer of 2013. Right now, the construction crew is prepping the ground to move the dirt.

Lake specified that progress will remain steady, though the public may not see what is taking place.

“For the first couple of months, as people drive by, they’re probably going to scratch their head and say, ‘We read that article and they’re supposed to be building, and nothing’s happening,’” Lake said.

Eight members will comprise the staff at the new location. This is an increase of four staff members from the Jubilee Center location.

For more information, call 633-3470.