Northpointe Bank's continued growth in their residentail lending offerings drove the demand for a new kind of space. Northpointe engaged Ghafari to transform the former Cascade Commons, an aging, nearly vacant building.
Prior to putting pen to paper, Ghafari developed a roadmap to deeper understand Northpointe's key business drivers. This roadmap offered holistic understanding of Northpointe's real estate, people, and technology. From there, we designed an immersive interior and exterior experience, balancing diverse workstyles and high-tech meeting space, with engaging social spaces that anticipates the needs of a growing company.
Key to the design's success is the introduction of vast amounts of natural light, coupled with a design vision that mimics Michigan's natural beauty and seasonal change. Ghafari drew upon the renovation of a massive interior skylight that spans the entire depth of the building, a key feature that is a major element of the building's past, now a renewed driver and symbol of Northpointe's future.