Last
Thursday, Evergreen Credit Union held a ceremonial groundbreaking at their
location on Route 302 in North Windham. The interim CEO as well as many of the
members of the board of directors and the community participated.
The
new building, which will be done early next year, will be a LEED certified space,
the first in Windham according to Town of Windham town manager Tony Plante and
the credit union CEO. “LEED-certified buildings are resource efficient. They
use less water and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As an added
bonus, they save money,” according to the US Green Building Council website.
“It
will continue our mission on sustainability. This is one more way to accomplish
our mission,” said Evergreen Credit Union Interim CEO Tim Verrault. “The
building is really outdated. We want top notch.” 
The
credit union has tripled its membership since opening in Windham. Evergreen
Credit Union has four locations with 23,000 members in Cumberland County. It
has been in existence for 65 years dating back to SD Warren Credit Union, which
existed for the paper mill in Westbrook. Membership now is based on those who
work or live in Cumberland County or have immediate family members who are
already members, said Verrault.
The
new building will be the first time Evergreen has done a redesign of a branch by
creating a whole new building. Other branches have been renovated, but this is
exciting for all involved.
“We
only do financial institutions,” said TLA president and architect Jim Durgin.
“This is the first LEED certified building we have done.”
The
new branch will have “dialogue banking” where tellers are no longer behind a
locked counter, but are accessible to the members. The “pod” concept makes the
space very open and welcoming,” Verrault added.
The
physical space will increase as well from the existing 2,500 square feet to
4,000 square feet. Verrault expects the new space to be state of the art for
its members and employees.
Evergreen
CU is doing this to “promote better service for all existing members,” said
Howard Lowell, marketing director. “They’re not doing this to grow, but to
provide state of the art services.”
The
existing building was purchased in 2001. “At the time we knew it was going to
be a temporary branch,” said Verrault. The credit union plan to recycle as much
of the materials as they can from the existing building.
When
the demolition begins on the building built more than 20 years ago, banking
transactions will take place in a rental unit in the parking lot behind the
bank. The special bank rental from Portland Safe will be open for business on
July 25th. There will be plenty of signage marking the temporary
location, said Verrault.
The
temporary branch will have three teller stations plus the drive up window.
There will still be traditional banking services, like night drops, walk in
service, and drive up service all with the same hours.
“The
new structure provides the same security practices utilized in the original
branch,” said Verrault. The nine employees will continue to do their jobs in
the temporary location.
The
construction will be completed by Allied Cook and the interior design will be
by TLA Architects. The new building will fit in
with the 21st Century Plan for downtown Windham, according to
Verrault.
“When
you think about what’s to come, it will be worth it,” said board of directors
member Julie Lunt-Farley.
R
to L
Robert
Dodge – Board of directors
Julie
Lunt-Farley – Board of directors
Jennifer
Breton – Board of directors
Tim
Verrault – Interim CEO
Chris
Doe – Board chairman
Patty
Ross – Branch manager
Tony
Plante – Town Manager
John
Holt – Board member
Dawn
Dyer – Sebago Lakes Chamber of Commerce director
Jim
Durgin – TLA Architect
Tom
Greer – Pinkham & Greer Civil Engineers
Matt
Cook – Allied Cook Industries
