Delta Dental Bemidji Named a Top Project of 2019

Five Kraus-Anderson projects were named Top Projects of 2019 by Finance & Commerce. A panel of judges looked at the degree of difficulty, creativity in design, innovative construction techniques, cooperation among contractors and management, and sustainability efforts when choosing winners. Designed by ESG Architecture & Design, the Delta Dental Bemidji Operations Center earned a Top Project award.

The 38,000-square-foot building provides an open-office environment and ample amenities, including wellness and fitness areas, locker rooms, a kitchen and breakroom, and training rooms. Delta Dental of Minnesota‘s presence in the Bemidji community will provide 175 jobs within the first five years, with room to expand up to 200 employees within 10 years.

With a firm budget and only 15 months to complete both design and construction, the project team worked collaboratively in a design-build model to create a cost-effective space. KA, ESG, and the client held weekly meetings where key design decisions were made. What started as a four-story building ended up being a one-story with upper mezzanine, creating an open environment for employees. The architect team was able to interpret the owner’s needs quickly and design a space that best suits their work flow. A full height curtain wall system was added to provide ample daylight for employees, but screen glare was a concern. The team collaborated with a curtain wall supplier to develop a glass type with both color tint and applied ceramic frit pattern to eliminate unwanted glare.  The glass was tested by the Owner’s team outdoors in the sun for both color rendition and glare reduction to ensure the perfect solution.

The mechanical and electrical systems design also presented unique challenges. The two-story, open space contains exposed mechanical and electrical systems, making acoustical considerations and coordinated layouts for aesthetic appeal critical. Peterson Sheet Metal and Hunt Electric coordinated their respective system layouts to complement the architecture of the space. Rooftop air handling units with lower fan sound levels were selected to keep the white noise from HVAC units at a comfortable level while in the building.

A tight schedule, firm budget, and complex owner needs led to some innovative solutions that turned an ordinary call center into a beautiful, amenity-rich workspace for Bemidji employees. To learn more about the Delta Dental Bemidji Operations Center project, tune in to KA’s Build Me Up podcast.