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Bellco Credit Union

Aurora, Colorado

Bellco Credit Union

DESIGNER

Arno Sandoval, Alisha Tyler and Lindsay Wehmeier, NewGround International

LIGHTING CONSULTANT

Logan Unrein of FSC MEP

CLIENT

Bellco Credit Union

LOCATION

Aurora Branch
499 S. Airport Blvd
Aurora, CO 80017

DATE OF COMPLETION

May, 2024

TARGET & DELIVERABLES

2021 IECC requirements: Meet the requirement of 10 energy credits

Environmental stewardship: Use recycled materials where possible

Linear integration: Maintain a sleek, flush appearance within grid system

High-quality drivers: Offer durability and long-lasting performance

BACKGROUND

Architects, Engineers and a Vision: The Collaborative Birth of Bellco's Aurora Branch

The story of Bellco Credit Union's Aurora branch began with a vision: create a space that is functional and welcoming, a place where members feel at ease and staff could thrive. The vision took shape under the careful guidance of NewGround Design's team, with architects Arno Sandoval and Alisha Tyler at the helm. Their blueprint blended innovation and practicality and finally came to life on May 17, 2024 at 499 S Airport Blvd. Central to this transformation was a play of light, orchestrated in partnership with FSC MEP Engineers, illuminating the space and shaping its character. To understand the heart of the project, we spoke with Cody Goodrich, Director of Marketing for NewGround Design.

Our mission: Bellco is committed to improving members’ quality of life by building wealth and securing their financial future

INTERVIEW

What types of projects do you most enjoy designing?

“We most enjoy designing projects where we build a strong relationship of trust with our clients,” said Goodrich. “Through this trust, we can push designs forward, challenge the status quo and create spaces that are innovative, efficient, and unique.” For NewGround, the type of space—whether a large headquarters, a small branch location, or a hotel—matters less than the opportunity to redefine possibilities and meet client goals.

Does your firm focus on an area of expertise?

“With over a 111-year history, we have experience and expertise throughout just about every market there is. We love to keep our workflow diversified and allow ourselves the creativity to take ideas from different markets and apply them to new spaces” Goodrich explains.

NewGround Design focuses in four primary areas; financial, workplaces, hospitality and retial.

Indirect center-basket LED troffer lights provide general lighting over the credit union waiting area with minimal glare.

Integrated T-bar LED lights fit into a ceiling grid create a linear pattern over a conference and waiting area.

“The space is designed to feel welcoming and helpful.” -Cody Goodrich

CHALLENGE

What was the intended use of the space?

“The space is designed to feel welcoming and helpful, guiding members to the correct area in order to receive the help they need,” Goodrich shares. It is equally functional for employees, offering an environment optimized for productivity and member services.

The Bellco Credit Union space is a hub for members to manage all their transactional needs, from indoor consultations to drive-through services.

Two-story Bellco Credit Union lobby illuminated by LED troffer lights.

“We most enjoy designing projects where we build a strong relationship of trust with our clients.”

T-bar grid ceiling lights install easily in standard grid ceilings to create a modern, seamless look.

“Rather than your typical 2x2 grid system, we utilized a 1’x4’ grid and ceiling tiles to create a linear visual.” - Cody Goodrich

Who specified the lights for this project?

The NewGround Design Team for this project consisted of Alisha Tyler and Lindsay Wehmeier. Tyler previously used Alcon Lighting products on another banking project for U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union. For this project, Tyler and Wehmeier partnered with Logan Unrein of FSC MEP as engineering consultants to select the best fixtures for Bellco’s space.

What did you seek to achieve with the lighting design?

After a discovery session with the client, NewGround identified a desire for clean lines, hidden details and a sophisticated, minimalist aesthetic. “This led us to create a unique ceiling in the open lobby/waiting area,” said Goodrich. “Rather than your typical 2x2 grid system, we utilized a 1’x4’ grid and ceiling tiles to create a linear visual. We wanted the light fixture to look like it was part of the grid, running parallel to achieve that contemporary and sleek aesthetic.”

An illuminated panel grid feature leads customers into the Bellco Credit Union, lined with LED troffers for general lighting.

CHALLENGE

Were there any industry-specific regulations or standards that impacted the project's requirements?

“Some cities do enforce regulations and requirements, such as the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code. The IECC requires a space to have 10 energy credits,” Goodrich says. “FSC and NewGround worked alongside each other to carefully design a project space that would meet these requirements while still retaining the original design standards. They creatively adjusted wattages and quantities of fixtures to achieve this goal.”

What deliverables did the client expect, and were there any quantifiable goals, such as energy reduction targets or cost savings, that the project aimed to achieve?

“This client is very understanding in knowing that the best way to keep building costs down is to design a space that is both efficient and does not waste square footage. This remained a primary goal throughout the project, with a secondary goal of keeping energy levels low to meet the 2021 IECC requirements. This ensured that the building had full control of window shades and any other mechanical and plumbing considerations that could also be energy efficient.”

While the client did not require results to be measurable, Goodrich explains that they strive to be good stewards of the environment. NewGround took this into account with the design, selecting materials made of recycled content, such as carpet with 100% recycled content nylon.

Recessed linear lights fitted in a slatted wood ceiling light the way to the welcome desk at the Bellco Credit Union.

A linear pendant light provides task lighting over a dual workspace while round downlights provide ambient lighting.

Which lighting specifications were important and why?

“The most important deciding factor was a linear light that could be integrated to the ceiling grid and flush to create a sleek design,” Goodrich says. “We also wanted to stay in the 3,500 Kelvin range, so the light color wasn’t too cool or too warm while still providing a quality LED with drivers to last.”

Which Alcon Lighting product(s) were purchased, and how did the lights achieve the desired outcome?

NewGround selected Alcon Lighting’s 12525 LED Linear T-Bar Ceiling Grid Lights. These fixtures seamlessly aligned with the ceiling grid system, achieving the clean, uniform aesthetic the client desired. The integration also provided the flexibility and quality needed to meet the project’s functional lighting requirements.

Conclusion

Bellco Credit Union’s redesigned space showcases NewGround Design’s ability to merge form and function. Through their partnership with FSC MEP Engineers and the use of Alcon Lighting’s 12525 LED Linear T-Bar Ceiling Grid Lights, the team achieved a balance of aesthetic simplicity and operational efficiency. This innovative approach ensures that the space meets the needs of both members and employees while embodying Bellco’s commitment to service and excellence.

Exterior LED lighting at the Bellco Credit Union includes round recessed downlights on the soffit and LED bollards.

“The space is designed to feel welcoming and helpful, guiding members to the correct area in order to receive the help they need.”

Insights Lighting Tip

Commercial lighting stands at a pivotal moment where technical capabilities are meeting human needs in new and unexpected ways. Motivated by decades of research in the field of Human-centric lighting (HCL), an area of lighting design that aims to harmonize and address the physiological impact of artificial lighting on the individual.