Building for the Future: A look inside the jobsite offices of the future KA Headquarters
By Brenden Nickels
Brenden Nickels was an office assistant in Kraus-Anderson’s Minneapolis office.
Building a new headquarters and mixed-use city block requires careful planning, strong coordination and a functional project office. The KA Block team established its jobsite offices at 917 South Fifth Street to support construction of the new headquarters, apartment building and combined hotel and Finnegan’s brewery concept.
The KA Block redevelopment continued the evolution of the east side of downtown Minneapolis.
Rody Lageson at the KA Block project offices.
A Project Office Supporting a Major Downtown Development
“There are certainly challenges in building the Brewtel and apartments as part of the same project as the new KA headquarters, but I think the other components will add to the block and neighborhood, making the whole development better,” said Project Manager Rody Lageson.
“Downtown is constantly changing, but Kraus-Anderson has been here for a long time. Whether building a new headquarters or volunteering locally, KA and its employees are committed to the community.”
The project team shared space with the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District at 917 South Fifth Street. The jobsite offices were on the second floor, while the first-floor conference room shared space with the garage.
KA Block project offices.
Inside the KA Block Jobsite Offices
After entering from the back alley and climbing a flight of stairs, or taking the elevator, visitors arrived at the second-floor office space.
The jobsite offices were similar to the temporary offices at Broadway Place East. They included a meeting room, storage for hard hats and safety vests, and an old KA logo salvaged from the former headquarters building.
Project Assistants Emily Hals Laux and Jillian Sidler worked in the main office area. Project Superintendent Al Zaffke and Intern Patrick McFadden had a private office.
The bid room included a lunch area with a refrigerator, microwave and coffee makers. The refrigerator, coffee maker and cabinets had been used in the second-floor lunchroom of the former headquarters building.
The restrooms included working showers, a feature remaining from the building’s former use as an apartment complex. Project Managers Chris Knutson and Chris Dokken worked from desks on the first floor near Fifth Avenue South.
Lean planning in the KA Block project office.
Lean Planning at the KA Block
Lageson said the first-floor slab for the new KA office was expected to be ready for structural steel by the end of August. The team hoped to top out the structure around Thanksgiving, followed by enclosure and finishes.
Lageson expected the completed development to become another community within downtown Minneapolis.
“I think both the KA office and the block as a whole will be communities,” Lageson said. “KA focuses on enduring relationships and strong communities, and this block is a showcase of both.”
“Downtown is a busy place right now, but it is all part of the job.”
Signage salvaged from demolition of the former headquarters building sits at the entrance to the KA Block project offices.
Learn more about the KA Block project update, the start of headquarters and residential-tower construction, the hotel component of the KA Block and Kraus-Anderson’s Lean journey.
CATEGORY: Construction