Law firm, insurance company lease offices at downtown’s Steel District
May 3, 2023
A law firm and an insurance company are the latest tenants to announce new locations at downtown’s Steel District office tower.
Philadelphia Insurance Cos. and Robins Kaplan LLP will lease space in the downtown development under construction adjacent to Falls Park.
Philadelphia Insurance has been operating in the Sioux Falls market for the past 10 years and has outgrown its current office space.
“Our staff has increased year over year to the point that we simply ran out of space,” Aaron Martinez, underwriting manager for the surety division, said in a statement. “We plan on having 17 people working out of the new office. We’ll have a few open spots and some room to expand if necessary.”
The Sioux Falls office sells commercial surety bonds through a network of licensed and appointed agents in all 50 states. The team works a hybrid model of two to three days in the office.
“We really liked the location being right on the river and very close to Falls Park,” Martinez said. “Also we liked the whole Steel District concept, being a part of a brand-new development in the downtown area with access to new restaurants and retail space. We think it will be a selling point when trying to hire new employees in the future.”
The office plans to open later this fall.
Robins Kaplan expanded to Sioux Falls in 2015 and has grown to four attorneys with additional support staff. The new office will have space for up to 10 attorneys plus support staff.
“We were looking for an office space that could accommodate our growing practice in the Sioux Falls and South Dakota market,” said Brendan Johnson, managing partner of the Sioux Falls office. “We were happy to find The Steel District offered the space and resources that we need to support that growth.”
The firm represents some of South Dakota’s largest companies in complex commercial litigation in matters arising throughout the United States. The work includes everything from intellectual property disputes to antitrust matters and government investigations, in addition to a contingency practice representing individuals involved in catastrophic accidents.
The firm has a flexible office policy, but the South Dakota attorneys have chosen to work exclusively from the office, Johnson said.
“The development of downtown Sioux Falls and The Steel District specifically is reminiscent of our law firm’s roots in Minneapolis,” he said. “We have a growing number of clients doing business in both South Dakota and Minnesota, and with The Steel District we have a location that connects a common architecture and vibrant sense of community that Sioux Falls and Minneapolis share.”
Within The Steel District will be another business formerly based in the Twin Cities, C&B Operations, which moved its office to Sioux Falls.
“For both of these businesses, The Steel District is a tremendous match,” said Kristen Zueger, commercial broker with Lloyd Cos., who brokered both deals. “The team at Robins Kaplan and its clients will love the urban, walkable environment created within The Steel District and the broader downtown, including easy access to both courthouses and many colleagues in the legal community.”
The Robins Kaplan office plans to open late summer or early fall.
Other Steel District tenants include the bank FNBO and Holmes Murphy & Associates, as well as the corporate office for Lloyd Cos.
“We’ve been encouraged to see solid, steady interest in this opportunity for offices to locate at the gateway to our city’s namesake,” said Raquel Blount, vice president of commercial real estate for project developer Lloyd Cos.
“Both of these businesses are going to join a growing community of professionals within The Steel District that will enjoy an unparalleled work environment steps from Falls Park and all downtown Sioux Falls offers.”
