Members of the Mars and Pine-Richland Air Force JROTC cadets led by chief Mike Gasparetto US Air Force (Ret) and Armco mortgage operations supervisor, Mandy Eckstein (US Army Veteran) prepare to raise the American flag up the 70 foot flag pole in front of the new Armco Credit Union location in Cranberry Twp. at the intersection of Myoma Rd. and Route 228 Tuesday afternoon.

Armco Credit Union will celebrate the opening of its new $5 million Mars building June 1.

The 6,715-square-foot green building is located at the intersection of Route 228 and Myoma Road.

It will replace the current Mars building at 963 Route 19 in Adams Township. A flag raising ceremony Tuesday evening celebrated the new location.

The new building offers full-service banking and lending for consumers and businesses. Three drive-thru lanes and an additional ATM lane are available for convenience.

The structure was designed around the credit union's philosophy of promoting financial well-being and advancing the communities it serves.

“We wanted to design a sustainable building that provides convenience and modern amenities to our members,“ said Randy Cypher, CEO, “but also contributes to the betterment of Adams Township. It's important for us to support the community and local business.”

One feature that embodies this sentiment is a community room designed to host events promoting financial literacy for all ages.

When not in use, the room will be available at no charge to local businesses and nonprofit groups as a meeting place. It offers Wi-Fi access and an outdoor patio accessible to staff and community members.

Groups also may hold car washes on the property on weekends.

An electric car charging station was installed in front of the new building. It will be available without charge to the public during regular business hours.

To support local business, Armco CU utilized the services of 34 local subcontractors for the project. The majority of building materials and equipment were manufactured regionally.

Gallery framed prints featuring the photography of Mars native Phil Norton will be displayed throughout the building.

Norton's photographs pay tribute to the rich history of Mars and the surrounding area.

Architects specifically designed the new building to follow sustainable guidelines.The building also was designed around the American flag.The credit union flies the flag above all of its buildings.Architects revised initial plans on several occasions to accommodate a 20-by-30-foot American flag and 70-foot flagpole, according to Cypher.The Armco CU Mars branch is celebrating its grand opening with specials, speakers, events and a $5,000 giveaway throughout June.It will host speakers on a variety of financial topics, including college planning, insurance, retirement and investing.A small business Lunch & Learn series will be available free to all local businesses at 1 p.m. Tuesdays in June.Armco CU is the second-largest credit union in the Pittsburgh area, with more than $400 million in assets, 30,000 members and four Butler County branches.For more information, visit ArmcoCU.com.