Day Air Credit Union
Day Air Credit Union had recently completed a new branch model, and their team saw an opportunity to build on its success and make it even stronger. As they planned for future growth, they partnered with CESO to create a branch prototype that would be more efficient, adaptable, and cost-effective while preserving the member experience customers know and trust.
Bringing together expertise in survey, environmental, civil engineering, landscape architecture, and architecture, CESO worked alongside Day Air's leadership, operations, facilities, and marketing teams, as well as project partner Structure First, to rethink the prototype through a design and business lens. The goal was not simply to reduce square footage. It was to create a more member-focused model that could support long-term expansion, perform across a variety of sites, and respond to changing needs of their members.
Through a collaborative design process, the CESO team simplified the building by optimizing space utilization and addressing elements that presented site-specific challenges while maintaining the functionality, comfort, and accessibility that are essential to the Day Air experience. The result was a branch prototype that reduced the overall footprint by nearly 1,500 square feet while providing the flexibility to support multiple operational models, including teller pods, ITMs, and integrated drive-thru configurations.
The concept was further strengthened through real-world testing on redevelopment sites, including former restaurant properties. These opportunities required creative site planning, reuse strategies, and close coordination across disciplines to maximize each property's potential. Every element, from site circulation and parking layouts to canopy design and building placement, was evaluated from the previous design. In addition to design and site development, CESO represented Day Air throughout the entitlement process, attending planning & zoning and City Council meetings in Beavercreek, Ohio and working closely with planning officials in Troy, Ohio to help secure project approvals.
The result is a streamlined, repeatable prototype that gives Day Air Credit Union a foundation for continued growth. With new locations already moving forward, Day Air now has a flexible branch model that can be adapted to different markets and delivered consistently across future sites. By aligning design, operations, and site strategy from the beginning, CESO helped create a solution that supports expansion while providing their members with the modern banking experience they expect.
