Anchored in the heart of a small rural community, Poettker Construction’s new headquarters stemmed from a 2016 strategic planning session to grow the company’s brand and retain talent.
The company, which over the previous decade had experienced significant expansion, was looking to bring together internal departments that were spread over five buildings, and to add far more collaborative spaces.
The concept from the project’s design architect Oculus Inc. was a historic German bank barn, which are barns built into a bank or hillside. That idea resonated with Poettker Construction, which served as this project’s owner and design-build leader. Oculus Inc. shared its Revit models to illustrate its vision, and created a 3D virtual reality presentation of the new headquarters to show at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The interior design included glassed-enclosed private spaces that allow for intimate collaboration. Image: Joe Dietrich
Fitting the building’s height—which boasts a 37-ft-high interior ceiling—within the context of an adjacent residential neighborhood and the architectural style of the traditional bank barn was creatively addressed by working with the topography of the site.
Energy efficiency is a signature feature of this headquarters. The owner’s goal was to reduce the building’s energy consumption by 75% and its carbon footprint by 65%. To abet that goal, the building’s design called for the addition of a solar farm and LED lighting throughout, as well as fluid application of a vapor barrier onto the building’s envelope.
Another key element was a geothermal heating and cooling system, utilizing the lake on premises as well as wells drilled 300 ft deep.
The headquarters’ exterior façade, with steel and glulam structural features, complements the owner’s diverse construction portfolio, and the materials used allowed for unique framing configurations.
Steel and glulam are the prominent materials used on the building’s façade. Image; Joe Dietrich
The interior design was informed by extensive interviews with management and department heads. The cubicles are tailored to a 21st-century environment with sit-to-stand workstations and open collaboration spaces. Other tech features include an in-house training room that can accommodate seminars, meetings, and learning opportunities for up to 100 people. Connections to facilitate internal and external interactions among departments and clients made working at home easier during the coronavirus pandemic.
The design had to address privacy concerns for departments like accounting and human resources, which are now hosted on the building’s mezzanine level next to Poettker’s executive offices. The mezzanine overlooks the company’s operations department, so the designers installed acoustical ceiling clouds above the accounting department to dampen the sound transfer between levels.
A large lobby and reception area lead to stairs that connect the building’s two work areas. Image: Alise O'Brien
On-site health and wellness amenities include a 24-7 private fitness center for staff, and a 3.5-acre outdoor sanctuary with a lake, waterfall, and landscaping that lead to a walking path.
The headquarters, which opened in October 2019, hosts events to engage and interest people of all ages in the construction industry. Last year, over 200 college and high school students took part in workforce and informational tours of the building.
The headquarters premises include an outdoor sanctuary with a lake, fountains, and walking paths. Image: Joe Dietrich
Submitting firm, Architect and Project manager: Oculus Inc.
Owner/developer and GC/CM: Poettker Construction
Structural Engineer: IMEG Corp.
MEP Engineer: BRiC Partnership
Size: 39,400 sf
Construction time: July 2018 to September 2019
Cost: NA
Delivery method: Design/Build
Photo credit: Alise O’Brien Photography
Related Stories
Sustainability | Aug 15, 2023
Carbon management platform offers free carbon emissions assessment for NYC buildings
nZero, developer of a real-time carbon accounting and management platform, is offering free carbon emissions assessments for buildings in New York City. The offer is intended to help building owners prepare for the city’s upcoming Local Law 97 reporting requirements and compliance. This law will soon assess monetary fines for buildings with emissions that are in non-compliance.
Office Buildings | Aug 15, 2023
Amount of office space in U.S. is declining for the first time, says JLL
In what is likely a historic first, the amount of office space in the U.S. is forecast to decline in 2023, according to Jones Lang LaSalle. This would be the first net decline according to data going back to 2000, JLL says, and it’s likely the first decline ever.
Office Buildings | Aug 14, 2023
The programmatic evolution of the lobby
Ian Reves, Managing Director for IA's Atlanta studio, shares how design can shape a lobby into an office mainstay.
Office Buildings | Aug 10, 2023
Bjarke Ingels Group and Skanska to deliver 1550 on the Green, one of the most sustainable buildings in Texas
In downtown Houston, Skanska USA’s 1550 on the Green, a 28-story, 375,000-sf office tower, aims to be one of Texas’ most sustainable buildings. The $225 million project has deployed various sustainable building materials, such as less carbon-intensive cement, to target 60% reduced embodied carbon.
Government Buildings | Aug 7, 2023
Nearly $1 billion earmarked for energy efficiency upgrades to federal buildings
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced plans to use $975 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding for energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades to federal buildings across the country. The investment will impact about 40 million sf, or about 20% of GSA’s federal buildings portfolio.
Market Data | Aug 1, 2023
Nonresidential construction spending increases slightly in June
National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Spending is up 18% over the past 12 months. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.07 trillion in June.
Office Buildings | Aug 1, 2023
Creating a nurturing environment: The value of a mother’s room in the workplace
Since becoming an architect, Rebecca Martin of Design Collaborative has drawn a mother’s room into numerous projects. But it wasn't until she became a mom that she fully appreciated their importance in the workspace.
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 27, 2023
Number of U.S. adaptive reuse projects jumps to 122,000 from 77,000
The number of adaptive reuse projects in the pipeline grew to a record 122,000 in 2023 from 77,000 registered last year, according to RentCafe’s annual Adaptive Reuse Report. Of the 122,000 apartments currently undergoing conversion, 45,000 are the result of office repurposing, representing 37% of the total, followed by hotels (23% of future projects).
High-rise Construction | Jul 26, 2023
A 33-story Singapore tower aims to reimagine work with restorative, outdoor spaces
Architecture firm NBBJ has unveiled design details for Keppel South Central, a commercial tower in Singapore. The project, which is slated for completion in late 2024, will transform the original Keppel Towers into a 33-story, energy-efficient building that aims to reimagine work by providing restorative spaces and connections to the outdoors.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 25, 2023
San Francisco seeks proposals for adaptive reuse of underutilized downtown office buildings
The City of San Francisco released a Request For Interest to identify office building conversions that city officials could help expedite with zoning changes, regulatory measures, and financial incentives.