For Cambridge Savings Bank (CSB), a mutual bank with more than 400 employees and $5 billion in assets, the plan for an office relocation, beginning three years ago, provided the spark.
“Our initial focus when we began looking at new office locations was on improving collaboration,” recalls Dan Fraine, Senior Vice President, Facilities at CSB. “Our operations and administrative teams were spread out across three different locations, which is challenging. We knew how important it was to bring everyone together, and in the process, bring them together in space we could all be proud of. That led us to thinking about new and healthy ways to benefit employees.”
Interviews with CSB staff strengthened aspirations around health and employee wellness. When asked about what kinds of amenities and onsite features they would like to see in the new operations center, employees consistently cited fitness, healthy food choices, and outdoor spaces.
These suggestions aligned with the initial design program developed by CSB and their design partners at SMMA. Health and wellness also fit well with CSB’s company culture and its long history of sustainable and healthy practices. The bank was the first financial institution to earn Energy Star certification for its facilities, and CSB consistently invests in sustainable and environmentally responsible practices such as installing geothermal wells, energy-efficient lighting, and photovoltaic solar panels.
