BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Kevin Chandler recognizes the benefits that will be derived from the expansion of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The president of the Minnesota Credit Union Network just wants to appreciate them from quiet work surroundings. After 15 years of occupying about 14,000-square feet in an approximate 25,000-square foot, single-story building owned by CUNA Mutual, the Minnesota Credit Union Network is getting ready to move to new digs in downtown St. Paul in the Capital Historic District. The reason for MnCUN's move? The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is preparing to open a new north-south runway, and the MnCUN's current office in Bloomington is directly in the path of the runway where estimates predict noise levels to exceed 75 decibels. MnCUN has leased remaining commercial office space in the St. Paul Public Housing Agency's new building on North Wabasha Street. The new site is located about 15 miles from MnCUN's current office space and is almost the same size. MnCUN will be joined in its move by Minnesota Item Processing Corp., the largest check processor for credit unions in the state and managed by the MnCUN subsidiary Network Service Corp. The newly finished building is part of the Capitol Mall designed by architect Cas Gilbert, and its classic design allows it to blend with other buildings in the Mall such as the State Office Building and the new Department of Revenue building. In fact, the building that will house MnCUN's new offices is flanked on both sides by state office buildings and the windows look directly out at the center of the Capitol Mall. That's one of features of the new building that appealed to Kevin Chandler who explained that the building, which is designed to resemble other nearby historical buildings, is made of classic granite and has a burgundy hip-style roof. The new building design is radically different from the space MnCUN currently occupies in Bloomington. The organization, along with Minnesota Corporate, moved into that space when CUNA Mutual bought the building around 1989. After the NCUA's interlock regulations went into effect in 1996, Minnesota Corporate moved to Eagan, Minn. where it's still located. Now, in addition to the Minnesota Credit Union Network and CUNA Mutual occupying space in the building, US FCU also has a branch housed there. CUNA Mutual and US FCU intend to remain there after MnCUN moves out. Chandler said MnCUN plans to decorate its new office space with historic credit union photos as well as historic photos of the capital and capital groups. He said some of the office windows overlook the state's legislative area. MnCUN envisions using part of the space as a Minnesota Credit Union House and will host receptions there with legislators and other important officials. "It's important for credit unions to have a constant presence around legislators other than just walking the halls," said Chandler. "Legislators will be able to come to our office easily and see that we have it going on." That's why Chandler wants MnCUN to be moved in by Jan. 22, 2005 which happens to be Credit Union Day at the capital. "We'd been looking around for office space for awhile and were having a difficult time finding something suitable. We just happened to run into this new space. The rate was right, the space was right it had parking, and the trump card was the fabulous location," said Chandler. -

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