Northpointe Bank Offices – Grand Rapids
Northpointe Bank's new Grand Rapids office encourages and promotes their mission to be the best bank in America by bringing value and innovation to the people and communities they serve.
Ghafari Associates developed the dynamic and forward-thinking environment for Northpointe Bank‘s offices located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Fueled by a vision of massive transformation, talent retainage / attraction, and drive for elevating human potential, the Northpointe Operations Center is a dynamic and forward-thinking environment.
An expansive, 90,000 SF transformation to an aging, nearly vacant big-box and former design showcase center in Grand Rapids, Michigan’s southeast side, the design team applied a human-scaled, natural-lit and outdoor-focused spin on a foreboding volume of space. Key to the design’s success is the introduction of vast amounts of natural light, coupled with a design vision that mimics Michigan’s natural beauty and seasonal change. Additional key design drivers include:
- Restoration of a dramatic 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 and organizational datum on which the entire space is organized
- Blurring of indoor and outdoor space at both the main entry and work-café
- Custom design and construction of a steel arcade structure that serves to provide both open and enclosed scale, direct lighting more appropriate for focused work, and areas of acoustic and visual privacy
- A myriad of open and closed door workstyle choices that include huddle rooms, flex training space, high-tech conference rooms, work cafes, and chance interaction niches to name a few
- Offering “right to light” for all users aiding production, familiarity, and comfort
- Use of warm wood and natural materials, supporting the vision to celebrate the Michigan outdoors
Prior to putting pen to paper, Ghafari Associates developed a strategic roadmap as a deep understanding of Northpointe’s key business drivers that have a direct impact on the efficiency of a workplace and the effectiveness of the people working within. The roadmap offers a holistic understanding of Northpointe’s real estate, people, culture, technology, and well-being.
With this in mind, Ghafari designed an immersive interior and exterior user experience that balances diverse workstyles and high-tech meeting spaces with engaging and expansive social spaces. Now complete, the Northpointe Operations Center boasts human-focused qualities while simultaneously raising the bar and forging a path for authentic workplace offerings in West Michigan.
Design: Ghafari Associates
Photography: James John Jetel, Jason Keen
