Abbott Laboratories Employees Credit Union (ALEC) Offices – Gurnee

Design Collaborative was tasked with the office design for Abbott Laboratories Employees Credit Union located in Gurnee, Illinois.

ALEC wanted a place that was worthy of their people, clients and employees, a space that was welcoming and inviting. The building is on par with the services that they are providing to their members. A significant feature of the new ALEC headquarters building is the community hub area. ALEC’s culture is important to them, and the new hub was designed to facilitate the culture in a way that it wasn’t being encouraged before by the previous space. Departments are much better organized, and small areas were built in to promote community and small gatherings throughout the space.

A significant part of the building design is the considerable access to daylight and peaceful views of nature. Not one workspace is more than 30 feet from an exterior view (a LEED design principle). You can stand almost anywhere on the upper floors and see a vista. The building was carefully positioned not to disrupt the natural wetlands, and to share that element with employees. It was also designed to shield views of the theme park and interstate nearby.

ALEC’s brand was integrated not only through graphics and furniture, but throughout the exterior design as well. The designers aimed to create a palette that would allow their brand to stand out, be prominent. It is also meant to be timeless, with a materials palette that wouldn’t be out of date in the next several years. This gives them a clear, strong voice that lets their clients know ALEC’s ability to take care of them.

Design: Design Collaborative
Photography: Tim Brumbeloe