Aug. 29, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Interstate Office Products.

When you’re a firm that helps businesses and individuals find their ideal location to live and work, your own workspace needs to reflect that skill.

And, thanks to an extensive office renovation and expansion, it’s now clear the vision that Bender Cos. employed when it decided to move from downtown Sioux Falls to a former architecture firm’s building in south Sioux Falls.

Located at 305 W. 57th St., the building doubled in size to nearly 10,000 square feet and now offers a one-of-a-kind look and feel.

“We really wanted a wow factor walking in the front door,” president Reggie Kuipers said. “You step in, and it’s all glass, and straight ahead to the south there’s a nature area behind us. We’ve had several people tell us they don’t feel like they’re in Sioux Falls.”

Bender leased space in a historic downtown building for decades, housing both its commercial real estate and multifamily property management teams.

Over time, space and furniture had been assembled and changed around in multiple ways. So the new building represented the chance for a cohesive layout and design that included many new pieces of furniture.

“We wanted something that would stand the test of time, that didn’t look too trendy but still had a modern edge,” said Jill Madsen, president of Bender Midwest Properties.

Interstate Office Products was instrumental in achieving that goal, she said.

IOP has helped Bender select furniture and move among multiple spaces throughout the years.

The design team of Abby Tufvesson and Marcia Young helped support the latest expansion and renovation.

“The nice part was they brought us into some of their early architectural meetings, so we could see the vision with their ceiling and glass elements,” Young said. “It turned out much of their furniture could be moved from office to office and worked out very well in the new building, and then we were able to complement that helping with many other new selections.”

In the case of Bender Midwest Properties, which had bought new furniture about eight years ago, most of the pieces – including conference room furniture – made the move to the new building, where the property management firm occupies the lower level with space to grow.

“We purchased some height-adjustable desks that went with the rest of our furniture, and we were able to buy matching pieces and some new chairs, so it was nice that it all matched even though it had been several years,” Madsen said. “I just love the Interstate team. I can’t say enough about them.”

Upstairs, “we wanted a little bit of a rustic, industrial feel and they quickly picked up on that and put the pieces together to really bring it all together,” Kuipers said. “The furniture really makes it in the end.”

IOP put together multiple options before the Bender team set foot in its showroom.

“We wanted to make their selections easy. We knew this wasn’t what Reggie and his team do every day – they’re busy making deals and showing properties,” Young said. “Abby did a great job pulling finishes that blended beautifully with the architecture.”

The approach was to look for timeless pieces “that will age well with the building and weren’t too trendy,” Tufvesson said. “These will be with them for years to come, so we went with a very neutral palette but very clean finishes that will last and be durable.”

The process was easy, Kuipers said.

“We went in, sat in different chairs and looked at different materials, and they had already selected a lot of these things we said yes to,” he said. “It was seamless, honestly.”

Bender’s team loves the chairs selected for the entryway, which “are a newer line for us that literally just fit perfect with a more industrial look,” Tufvesson said. “It’s a showstopper.”

The main level includes two conference rooms that each received the same table and chairs, selected because they complement the ceiling detail.

“The wood top was partially why the tables were chosen because they go really well, and the legs of the table are unique because they’re more of an A-frame than a central leg structure,” Young said. “The whole thing went with the angles of the conference space when you walk in with the peak ceiling and wood detail. We thought it would be a perfect fit for those rooms.”

The offices on the main level use standardized furniture from Steelcase that gives the firm a more cohesive look.

“They were coming out of a hodgepodge of more traditional furniture and were overdue for something more modern,” Young said. “We chose black hardware for the furniture and height-adjustable desks, so it’s a nice blend with the offices. It shows how we can jazz up an individual office setup with hardware to fit the building space and finishes.”

The project team collaborated to create an inspiring space, those involved agreed. Architect Perspective and construction manager at risk Journey Construction created a distinctive office that includes a standout custom-craft spiral staircase connecting the two floors.

The lower level includes an extensive space for employees to take a break, hold meetings or even socialize around a sports simulator.

“We wanted to keep different settings that worked together, so if you’re sitting in a lounge chair, you don’t feel on your own,” Tufvesson said. “It’s very team-based, and there is bar-height, standard traditional seating and a sectional, so it all blends together.”

The idea is to create a space that feels like a pub on one side and a family room on the other – and it delivered that.

“As you look at employees going into the future, they seem to want an experience in the workplace,” Kuipers said. “And it’s fun. I recently came back on a Friday, and two of our younger guys were down there hitting golf balls at 3 p.m. – we close at 1 p.m. in the summer – and they were still there, and that’s how we want them to feel about the space. Someone else just asked to host a fantasy football draft here. And we’re happy about that.”

IOP also helped Bender create a welcoming outdoor space. Its patio includes multiple seating areas designed for meeting or socializing.

“People eat lunch there, they take phone calls out there, and IOP did that. They helped lay out an exterior design that focused on collaboration and gave us space to network and host events as a company,” Kuipers said.

The project is the latest in a series of them that built a relationship between the two companies, Bender founder Michael Bender said.

He remembers when his firm was forced to evacuate its downtown building while it was structurally evaluated following a nearby building collapse.

“They invited us to move into their space, a giant training center, and within hours we had internet, they had furniture for us, and that just shows you the quality of who they are,” he said. “That’s the kind of people we’re dealing with.”

In the new space, “IOP did a great job and helped us quite a bit,” Bender said. “They work with much larger organizations that they bring the best practices to the table for a smaller group like us. We get the benefit of their experience in a smaller setting.”

And when things went a little awry with a water leak before Bender moved into its space, IOP was there again.

“They’re just always right there for us. We needed to move furniture on a Saturday, and the whole crew came,” Madsen said. “We love their installation team too. They’ve moved us several times, and we know and love them.”

The project is a wonderful example of taking an existing space and turning it into something great, Young added.

“The whole thing is a blend of existing and new, and it just tied in really well together,” she said. “To see it transformed is really exciting.”

Ready to transform your own workspace for 2022 and beyond? Visit i-o-p.com, or call 605-339-0300.