iQ Credit Union Oregon, Washington

With a unique brand and company culture in focus, iQ Credit Union made plans for a new branch design that reflects those elements. Aimed at highlighting an emphasis on the health and welfare of both employees and the surrounding community, the overarching design includes an emphasis on employee wellness. In leading the design effort, Otak also served as a certification consultant with an aim of earning WELL Platinum across branch locations in the Pacific Northwest.

Designing Branches to Reflect Brand Values

In an architectural application of brand guidelines, iQ Credit Union aimed for a more modern branch design, rooted in the Pacific Northwest’s natural character, that maintained brand standards. Working with the design team from concept to construction, an exterior branding vision board was developed, accentuating regional aesthetic elements around iQ’s established brand values. With a strong focus on sustainability and wellness, each branch incorporates features that support WELL Platinum certification. Among those are low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials, mother’s rooms, and daylighting strategies that enhance comfort and reduce energy use. Locally sourced materials, exposed wood structures, and low-flow fixtures further reinforce the project’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Themes of transparency, varied massing, and an interesting articulation of the drive-through all combine to create a branch design resulting in spaces that are as welcoming as they are responsible.