Groundbreaking design-build company and financial services specialist, NewGround International, transforms communities with an integrated approach
When NewGround International (NewGround) completed the first design-build corporate headquarters (HQ) in 1922 for a Chicago community bank, the firm established a market leadership position it has since maintained for over 100 years. Today, the St. Louis-based pioneer has designed and constructed over 15,000 financial institutions throughout North America, the UK, and the Caribbean, surpassing $320 million in active project value this year.
Founded in 1913, NewGround’s integrated ‘Dream to Done’ approach combines strategy, design, construction management, and interiors, positioning the company as the financial service industry’s most reputable partner. As it navigates branch evolution, HQ expansion, and merger-driven rebranding across international markets, Construction Today welcomes Kevin Blair, CEO, Mike Crane, COO, and Danielle Calcara, SVP Marketing, to discuss NewGround’s integrated service delivery model, community resilience in Canton, and the future of financial organizations.
“Our offerings can be separated into four primary categories: strategy, design, build, and interiors,” begins Mike. “In strategy, we work with our clients to help them map out their growth plan, workplace strategy, brand alignment across their facilities, and the business transformation throughout their network. Design is all-encompassing – it’s not just about architecture, but also the engineering, interior finishes, environmental graphics, and digital and sensory marketing. With the build portion, we project manage the construction for our clients from pre-construction to the permitting, and interiors, including all the furniture, fixtures and equipment inside the facility. We create a holistic multi-sensory experience for clients, delivering a unique experience for both their employees and their customer base.”
Active engagement with clients at early development stages gives NewGround a major competitive advantage. “Mike and his team pull forward design partners, pre-construction, project managers, and interior designers at the initial meeting with the client,” adds Kevin. “Our integrated, progressive approach of design-build allows for early budgeting and getting the client firmly on board with the strategic direction and budget for their project.”
A highly customizable method also differentiates the company, as Danielle explains: “Each client will have totally different requirements – we understand that and we’re able to create an end-to-end approach that meets all their needs, making it a one-stop shop for them. We work with local construction teams that we have relationships with, so we’re able to customize the project significantly.”
Demand driven
As a renowned specialist in the financial services sector, NewGround sees disruption as opportunity. Although the footprint is shrinking, physical branches are still opening in North America, especially following the pandemic when financial service companies recognized branches remain critically important to total service delivery strategy. “Facilities have shifted from transactional spaces to more high value experiences for the customer,” Mike elaborates. “In 2024, there were 900-plus closures, but there were also 900-plus openings at the same time. The buildings themselves have gradually decreased in size to around 1500-to-3000 square feet. Clients want more self-service and consultant zones, rather than the traditional teller line build.”
Kevin adds: “Digital alone doesn’t do it. The consumer today expects both, which means the industry is very robust. If branches become less relevant in the future and more digital transactions are taking place, there will be increased demand for operational departments to service those customers. In turn, HQs and data centers will begin to expand and we are experts in that field too – that’s where the large-scale projects are.”
Alongside providing superior client experience, NewGround relocated its own HQ to Clayton, MO, in St. Louis County last year – predominantly for employee benefit. “Clayton is the epicenter of St. Louis’ financial services,” states Kevin. “It’s a walkable community with restaurants, hotels and amenities for our employees to enjoy.” NewGround has created a dynamic, multi-sensory corporate experience for the team. “Staff morale is fantastic in this new space,” shares Danielle. “It’s been fantastic bringing clients and partners in, and it really operates as a showroom for what we do.” Kevin describes the new Clayton office as a ‘benchmark for the future of corporate HQs, dynamically designed to attract and retain talent.
With a mission based on building prosperous communities, NewGround’s notable contribution to Canton, North Carolina is testament to this 100-year vocation. Facing severe destruction after Storm Fred in 2021, followed by the paper mill closure in 2023 and Hurricane Helene flooding in 2024, Canton residents were devastated by multiple natural and economic disasters. Danielle’s marketing team documented the redevelopment with a short film, and she elaborates: “Our partners at Champion Credit Union in North Carolina are remarkable individuals. When the city hall was destroyed, they enabled the use of their existing HQ to the town – we then stepped in to help build their new HQ. It was a challenging project, to be built into the side of a mountain and quickly became a beacon of hope in rebuilding the community, and we worked with local contractors who were also residents. The end product is gorgeous and I’m glad we had the chance to tell the story and share it with Champion and the community.”
The third space
Project delivery is a continued priority for NewGround in 2026, servicing multiple clients across financial, retail, and office sectors – including Starbucks. “We do a lot of design work for Starbucks, and they have experienced major shifts in the last few years,” explains Danielle. “They focus intently on what is known as the ‘third space’ – your first space is home, your second space is work, and the third space is a community gathering space. This is the space Starbucks wants to exist in, with a focus on the people and their experience.”
Danielle recently hosted the State of Design speaking engagement at Financial Brand Forum in Las Vegas, alongside NewGround’s Director of Retail and Director of Branded Environments, where the Starbucks vision was discussed alongside the future of banking facilities. “In a nutshell: branches are not dead, they are evolving. We want to be at the forefront of that change,” she sums up.
Overcoming material shortages and labor challenges, promoting nimble workforces, staying ahead of industry trends and adopting new technologies into operational processes is also on the firm’s agenda. With a detailed five-year strategy in place, NewGround focuses on large-scale corporate HQ experiences within financial services whilst broadening into the non-financial private sector.
“From a new business perspective, we’re pursuing a pipeline of $800 million worth of projects,” Kevin concludes. “We have an exciting list of potential clients that represent several major corporate experiences, renovations of existing buildings, mergers, and acquisitions. As financials are merging in North America, it creates a tremendous need to rebrand their networks – we’re going to double down on strategy and branding, explore how they’re resonating their brand across all channels and allow that front-end strategy piece to implement reformatting and modernization across their network.”
NewGround International has been the industry leader in creating branded, experiential spaces for financial services and retail leaders for over 100 years. The company’s fully integrated process is one-of-a-kind, taking clients from dream to done.