Architectural Polymers

The Honor Credit Union Operations Center in Berrien Springs, Michigan, is a three-story, 37,000-ft² facility designed to centralize support, office space, and technology services for the credit union’s network. Faced with a tight 12-month schedule and the challenge of harsh Lake Michigan winters, architect Collective Office employed a streamlined precast concrete solution to accelerate construction and ensure enclosure before the cold set in. The exterior design alternates between solid and glazed full-floor panels, with 80% of the precast units identical in size for maximum manufacturing efficiency. Strategically placed tall, narrow glass modules increase daylight penetration while maintaining cost and square footage efficiency.

To visually connect the new operations center to Honor Credit Union’s retail branches, 13,000 modular Black Manganese Ironspot bricks were cast into the panel faces, providing the brand’s signature deep color and sheen. Inside, precast concrete was also utilized extensively, including 44,000 ft² of 8-in. slab and 118 brick-clad panels. The result is a “quietly modern and timeless” building that combines durability, low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness with an open, industrial aesthetic, delivering both architectural elegance and engineering efficiency under an aggressive timeline.