Service Credit Union hosts Topping Out ceremony for new Corporate Offices

Caption: Service Credit Union President/CEO Gordon Simmons, right, presents ceremonial pins to returning servicemen, Eric Irizarry, left, and Daniel Hodgkins, center. Both are part of the Helmets to Hard Hats program working on the Service Credit Union’s new site.

PORTSMOUTH, NH. (October 6, 2011) – Service Credit Union hosted a Topping Out ceremony Thursday, October 6th on the future site of the credit union’s LEED gold certified, new corporate offices building at 2995 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth. The 100,000 square foot building is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2012.

Gordon Simmons, President/CEO of Service Credit Union, welcomed credit union, local and state officials to the ceremony where construction began in early spring. Among the attendees were New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, Deputy Banking Commissioner Robert Fleury as well as New Hampshire Air National Guard Commander Brigadier General Carolyn Protzmann and Wing Commander Paul Hutchinson. Simmons also acknowledged the credit union’s Board of Directors and Portsmouth officials Assistant Mayor Nancy Novelline Clayburgh, City Manager John Bohenko and Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Doug Bates.

Lynch, the keynote speaker, praised the credit union and Simmons as an outstanding business model and corporate citizen citing its unwavering support for its members and employees. Service Credit Union has shown “a deep commitment to both military and the New Hampshire community,” said Lynch.

“The Topping Out ceremony is a long-standing tradition among ironworkers and the construction industry that signifies the highest point of construction has been reached and the steel frame is completed,” says Simmons.

The tradition continues as the final white beam is hoisted, an evergreen tree and the U. S. flag are attached to the beam as it ascends. The beam represents one of the construction industry’s oldest customs and commemorates the pinnacle of the structure. The evergreen symbolizes a safe and efficient job well done, while honoring nature for providing natural resources for its construction. The flag represents patriotism, the united effort to achieve a common goal, and the proud history that stands behind the ironworkers.

Simmons also recognized the Iron Workers Local 7 of Manchester and its long history with the Helmets to Hardhats program.

“It’s a fitting partnership since Service Credit Union’s roots came from the military at Pease Air Force Base and we serve the military, their families and military retirees from across the world,” says Simmons.

Helmets to Hard Hats program partners with Union Building Trade apprentice programs to find career path jobs with fair wages and decent benefits for the military men and women. Local 7's commitment to members of Service Credit Union made its contractors and members an appealing resource for Suffolk Construction and Service Credit Union to build this facility.

The Iron Workers of Local 7 welcomed their newest apprentices, Army Specialist Daniel Hodgkins, who just returned stateside after serving his tour in Afghanistan, and Army Sergeant Eric Irizarry, an Army reservist who recently returned from the Middle East. Before the Army, he completes a stint with the Marines.

Simmons acknowledged Hodgkins and Irizarry and other military veterans working on the site with a ceremonial pin of the Topping Out event.

All invitees signed the ceremonial white beam which was placed at the top of what will be the future home of Service Credit Union’s new corporate offices.

“Our time for more space is overdue and that need had to be addressed. We had known for years that we would need more space,” says Simmons. “But, instead, we invested in branching, products and member service. In 2005, we began seeking property to purchase and construct our new home. We looked at many New Hampshire locations, including here in Portsmouth, and finally chose this fine property.”

Currently, Service Credit Union’s Corporate Offices resides at 2010 Lafayette Road in Portsmouth in a 19,000 square foot building. The new building, designed by the architectural firm of GUND Partnership of Cambridge, Mass., is being constructed with local, New Hampshire labor. Both the new and current Corporate Office buildings will accommodate present and expected future growth over the next ten to fifteen years. Service Credit Union will immediately house over 100 employees, bringing 60 new jobs to the city after completion with plans for expansion of another 40 or more jobs over the next five years.

“Service Credit Union is committed to a clean, friendly environment,” says Simmons, “thus, we are pleased that we were able to pursue the LEED green initiative (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) directed by the U. S. Green Building Council. Our LEED building addresses the cleanup of a formerly contaminated landsite, water, energy and atmospheric efficiencies, materials and resources as well as indoor environmental quality, innovation and design. We are striving for a LEED Gold certification”. The new corporate offices will be designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction and improved indoor environmental quality.

The four-story building will feature a full service, 24/7 member service call center, foreign exchange, member check imaging processing and control, Finance, community rooms, conference rooms, departmental and executive offices.

“Three community rooms are planned to be offered for use by local city government, not-for-profit organizations and other community based associations to help with the growing need for meeting space in Portsmouth and nearby towns,” says Simmons.

This new building expands Service Credit Union’s footprint in the area. More than 50 years ago, the credit union began operations at Pease Air Force Base as the Portsmouth Air Force Base Federal Credit Union to serve military and civilian employees there. Now the largest credit union in New Hampshire at more than $1.9 billion in assets and serving the citizens in nine of the ten counties in the state, four towns in Massachusetts and with military members around the world, Service Credit Union has grown to serve close to 150,000 members with branches in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Germany. Besides the new corporate offices, the credit union’s current properties will be used by the credit union for present requirements and to expand on future needs.

Service Credit Union is a full service financial institution, offering a wide range of financial products to its members. With 37 branch locations including two staffed 24/7 contact centers, and full internet banking services, Service Credit Union serves anyone who lives or works in New Hampshire (excluding Coos County), 4 towns in Cape Cod, MA., and all branches of the U.S. Military and Department of Defense employees and their families. Service Credit Union has 20 branches in New Hampshire, one in Massachusetts, and 16 branches on U.S. military bases in Germany.