Great Basin in new office

When it comes to making lemonade

out of lemons, the folks at Great Basin

Federal Credit Union deserve a nod.

Their new headquarters

building at 9770 S.

Virginia that's next to

Winco near South

Meadows and U.S. 395

was squeezed into a roughly

triangular shape by the

constraints of the property.

That's not a problem for

the credit union. Its officials

proudly say that the footprint

of the building looks

remarkably like the outline

of Nevada.

The credit union moved

from its previous headquarters at 981

Bible Way in east Reno during the

weekend of Sept. 7-8, closing a half

hour on that Friday to allow employees

to finish packing boxes.

On Monday, Sept. 9, the crew was

open for business at the new 10,000-

square-foot building.

"It was kind of neat," said Susan

George, the credit union's business

development and marketing manager.

"The employees did most of the work."

The credit union employs about 40.

The new building includes facilities

to serve the credit union's 11,000 members

anyone who works or lives in

Washoe County is eligible for membership

along with administrative offices

and back-office functions.

George noted the facility also includes a

drive-up teller machine and two drive-up

windows where customers can transact

their business with live tellers.

George said the new facility provides

substantially higher visibility for the credit

union because the previous headquarters

was tucked on a side street near Mill Street

and Terminal Way.

The Bible Street location has been closed

by Great Basin. It continues to operate its

branch locations at Keystone Square and at

Prater and McCarran in Sparks.

Joseph Pace Construction Inc. built the

building that was designed by Morris &

Brown Architects Ltd. of Reno.