March 13, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Interstate Office Products.

It was about as old school as a bank boardroom could get.

Think mid-1970s. Think something out of a vintage film scene.

But the bank’s team knew it was time to think differently.

“It was iconic in its own way, but it was time to modernize and utilize our space more efficiently,” said Kae Klinkenborg, facilities experience manager and vice president at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls.

“We were looking for a space to not only have board meetings but also a place to host internal events.”

The resulting renovation is a signature element of a larger, multiyear transformation for the downtown bank headquarters. Located on the second floor, the boardroom became the final phase of a project that began with exterior work in 2019.

Two years ago, construction moved inside to the bank’s atrium. In August 2022, construction began on the second floor, lasting until the spring of 2023.

“And the only piece that wasn’t done was the boardroom, which was just done this fall,” Klinkenborg said. “We actually had a vault that needed to be removed and was taken apart piece by piece, which then allowed us to go in and add windows in the corner.”

The team of architecture firm TSP and construction manager Journey Construction designed and delivered on the build-out. When it came time to furnish the space, longtime furniture partner Interstate Office Products helped the bank determine how to outfit the room.

“The vision was for a more-elevated space and a completely different aesthetic than they had ever used before,” said IOP interior designer Abby Tufvesson, who worked on the project with account manager Mark Payne.

“We used a glass top and nice, substantial chairs to create the look they were hoping to achieve.”

Instead of simply a boardroom, an area of the second floor was created and dubbed “The Vault” in a nod to its previous use.

Walk in, and you’re greeted by a mix of seating and bar-height tables that “really caters to the different events they want to be able to accommodate in the space,” Tufvesson said. “We did a custom rug to fit a circular sofa, so it was very tailored to their design.”

The flow of the area reflects how the bank uses it, Payne added.

“Sometimes, they’ll have a meeting, and then people will remain in the area, so this gives them a space to continue their conversation, with great views overlooking the river,” he said.

“The lounge furniture pieces were a focal point and are very nice. The rest of the space fell into place around it.”

The process of reimagining the boardroom space itself, which is within The Vault and adjacent to the gathering area, was “very collaborative,” Klinkenborg said.

“We’ve just started using the whole Vault, and it’s a very comfortable space with better lighting and electronics that allows us to host meetings and events the way we hoped. The boardroom table is beautiful, and the whole area is a great place to have official meetings and informal conversations.”

Elsewhere throughout the bank, IOP also worked with First National Bank to furnish a variety of offices, from executive spaces to open office work areas.

“We didn’t have height-adjustable desks on this floor before, so that’s been a new addition and has been a huge improvement for our teams, and just overall we’ve seen a more modern look,” Klinkenborg said.

The desks themselves use a newer, height-adjustable slim leg with an enclosed look, Tufvesson said.

Some of the executive offices include an additional table and chairs, “but generally, while the finishes are elevated, the pieces themselves are fairly standardized now throughout the bank,” she said. “They just have a lot of nice spaces, different lounges and touch-down spaces throughout.”

The workstations also were upgraded to make them flexible and adaptable to the bank’s needs.

“These are made so they’re easy to rotate and reconfigure, and all the storage pieces are modular,” Tufvesson said.

“There’s an attached screen that provides nice acoustic and privacy value, but as you move the desk, it also can create a different view and support what you’re doing that day, whether it’s a virtual call or more independent or collaborative work.”

Overall, the bank “has been very progressive in terms of embracing new trends and new ways of working, and it’s worked for them,” Payne added.

Several years after starting, nearly all major areas of the bank have been upgraded.

“It’s turned out great,” Klinkenborg said. “IOP has been a great partner throughout. We gave them what we were looking for, and they delivered.”

To learn more about how IOP can support your workplace vision, visit i-o-p.com, or call 605-339-0300.