FSB spearheads major renovation, giving Chickasaw Nation members one-stop-shop access to social services.

Stepping inside the Chickasaw Nation’s new Carl Albert Center is to be engulfed in a welcoming, “living room” atmosphere unusual for a large community assistance facility. This homey, uplifting feeling is exactly what tribal officials were looking for when they selected FSB to renovate the 35-year old Carl Albert Indian Health facility. The renovation allows the nation to consolidate a number of departments and functions that were previously scattered in leased offices throughout the tribe’s home base of Ada, Oklahoma.

While the form of the building was already established, the FSB team redefined the architecture and reinvigorated with it with a new design to make it more user-friendly and to tie in with the architectural themes utilized throughout other new Chickasaw Nation buildings. Warm tones, cream walls, wood flooring and dark wood accent trim create a soothing, healing atmosphere throughout. The revamped center brings together under one roof the following departments: administrative services, benefits & compensation, human resources, interior services, organizational planning & support, policy & standards, the School-to-Work program, social services, training & career development and the federal WIC program. Other amenities include a new training/conference center, a fitness center which serves building employees, and a food court that services both employees and visitors. Totaled, the facility has 191 offices, 10 state-of-the-art conference rooms, two computer labs and a large assembly hall that can be partitioned into orientation and training rooms, as needed.

The project scope included all interior renovations to meet new functional needs, as well as complete replacement of the existing mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems due to their age and deteriorated condition. Exterior work included removal of rooftop hot water heating panels, replacement of the existing roof and renovation of the building’s exterior, to update the appearance and bring it line with current Chickasaw facility design parameters.