SIOUX FALLS, SD – JLG Architects has recently completed an office renovation and expansion to accommodate the employee-owned firm’s exponential growth in South Dakota’s largest city. The public is invited to attend the formal Chamber Ribbon Cutting and celebration on Thursday, April 18th at 4:30 pm. The new office is located at 230 South Main Avenue, Sioux Falls.
Since 2016, JLG’s Sioux Falls team has leased a 4,125-square-foot space at 232 South Main Avenue. With unprecedented growth today and on the horizon, the firm recently acquired an additional 4,075 square feet of space that became available next door.
“Our 10-year plan was to create a dozen new careers in Sioux Falls. We started with five employee owners in 2016, and today, our Sioux Falls office is home to 24,” said Catherine Dekkenga, AIA, Principal Architect, and JLG’s Sioux Falls Regional Manager. “We are thrilled to see this kind of positive growth for Sioux Falls and JLG.”
Design Details
JLG’s 8,200 square feet office features a new configuration with five conference rooms, additional restrooms and breakrooms, desk workstations, and a variety of comfortable, non-traditional workstation options. The new office also enhances its partnership with Rehfield’s Art, a Sioux Falls gallery that displays regional artist collections on JLG’s workplace walls.
The expanded office showcases design and furnishings curated by JLG’s in-house Interior Design team members, Alison Carlson and Marissa Arroyo. “It was important to have JLG’s signature tones branded throughout the space, focused on balance in contrast – using both light and dark tones to create distinct areas for collaboration and separation,” explained Arroyo. “Within flexible workspace configurations like huddle rooms, conference rooms, lounge areas, and open office benching workstations, we incorporated adjustable features, elegant finishes, and biophilic elements that create visual comfort.”
JLG has preserved the office’s original wood flooring as a remnant of the building’s Sioux Falls history. As an acoustical solution that minimizes open office and flooring noise, the team incorporated biophilic-patterned carpet tile below workstations and embossed acoustic wall panels in all huddle rooms, doubling as a sleek backdrop for virtual meetings. JLG’s expanded office also features project rooms with integrated power and meeting technology, allowing the firm to conduct immersive VR (virtual reality) design experiences with clients.
“We design for workplace well-being, and it’s important that we practice what we preach, “said Dekkenga. “Half of our staff prefer designated desks, and the other half prefer to work in less formal or flexible workstations that accommodate varying tasks. Like many offices, our employee owners want options – this includes having the ability to work from a desk or work informally from an adaptable armchair, lounge area, collaborative space, or individual workspace.”
The office renovation added a kitchenette, complete with black traceless casework, light countertops with dark veining, green backsplash tile, and brass hardware and fixtures. “As an office that really enjoys spending time together, it was important to have enough seating for the group to eat together,” said Carlson. “To achieve this, we designed the kitchen with a fusion of tables, booth sitting, and bar height sitting. The kitchen can also transition to a working café during office hours.”
Across JLG’s nine offices, all 200+ employee owners are able to work remotely as needed and travel between offices into address-free work zones. “JLG’s office organization creates a united front for the firm, offering a more equitable, inclusive workplace that gravitates away from interoffice hierarchy,” explained Dekkenga. “Our culture is important, we love having a fun and creative workspace, but we also want all employee-owners to feel accepted, supported, heard, and involved. We have a really compassionate team, and we encourage each other to use those skills to make an impact – changing how we connect our community, diverse cultures and beliefs, and the organizations that support our community.”
Current Sioux Falls Projects:
- Dakota State University – Madison Cyber Labs
- Augustana University – Midco Arena
- City of Sioux Falls Master Plan for Kuehn Park, McKennan Park, and Southside Aquatic Facility
- Lincoln County Courthouse
- Minnehaha County Administration Building Remodel
- Scherer Inc.
- First International Bank & Trust
- Children’s Home Society
- Empower Campus – Boys & Girls Club
Catherine Dekkenga, AIA, Principal Architect
Catherine Dekkenga, JLG’s Sioux Falls Regional Manager, has been an architect for 13 years and is a Rotary International Member and past Board Chair for Levitt Shell Sioux Falls. She is heavily involved in her community and Central Church, as a member, youth group leader, and her role within the Church’s Mission Facility steering committee. Dekkenga serves on the City of Sioux Falls Sustainability Master Plan steering committee and was appointed by the Mayor to sit on the City of Sioux Falls Charter Revision Committee Commission. She has also been appointed by the Governor to vice chair of the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions, with a 2022 appointment to chair, and 2023 appointment to secretary of the board.
Dekkenga’s Sioux Falls team serves the Sioux Falls community through a variety of avenues, including contributions and volunteerism with the Sioux Empire Fair, Youth Building Block Contest, SDSU Department of Architecture, Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation, Downtown Sioux Falls, and several other organizations, including the Boy Scouts Explorer programs.
