community focused
MSUFCU 311 Abbot
Designed as a statement building for Michigan State University Federal Credit Union’s East Lansing presence, the mixed-use project combines a credit union branch, community event space, workplace, wellness suites, and additional tenant spaces. The proximity of neighboring buildings and businesses required careful consideration to ensure that the project remained aesthetically pleasing and contextual with the surrounding community.
vision
311 Abbot is envisioned as a vibrant community hub, offering the most tenant space of any of its properties and featuring flexible pop-up spaces to engage the Spartan community. The design highlights the prominent Abbot and Albert corner with a striking glass façade that contrasts with the brick and metal panel elevations, providing expansive views of East Lansing and Michigan State University.
detail
At street level, a welcoming entrance leads to the credit union branch, where a grand chandelier, visible through the second-floor vestibule. The ground-floor tenant space hosts art, tech, and experiential events, while a community space accommodates gatherings of 470+ people. Workplace floors blend private offices, conference rooms, and open workspaces, with each floor featuring a corner conference room, fueling station, and wellness room to support diverse needs.
secret
Our north facade design solution provided a unique opportunity to create an architectural mural. The implementation involved embedding thin green brick into the precast by hand, creating a striking contrast between the vast wall surface of the structure and the linear lines of each floor. A custom canopy frit projects a shadow of foliage onto the sidewalks, making the connection between the built environment and the community.
