New Sanford event venue will include outside bookings
Aug. 14, 2019
The landscape has changed yet again at the Sanford Health headquarters in northeast Sioux Falls – this time with a new event venue that’s nearly ready to open.
The 10,000-square-foot facility was inspired by the Meadow Barn in Harrisburg. While it doesn’t have an official name yet, it’s already filling up with events.
“We’re going to use it as an events center both for internal and external use,” said Bill Gassen, chief human resource officer, who oversees facilities, construction management and development.
“We have an increasing number of internal events, whether they’re meetings or team retreats or strategic planning, and now with that and what we have at the Sanford Center, it allows us … to bring everybody onto our own campus and better utilize it for our own purposes.”
The one-story venue will accommodate about 300 people seated and 400 in a less-formal configuration. It will include a bar and stage, along with walls that open and close to divide the space as needed. There also are smaller meeting rooms set up inside, and a kitchen is designed to accommodate external catering.
“It’s stained from the inside, and we’ll have an attractive, large chandelier and polished concrete flooring,” Gassen said. “It’s classy and looks sharp. I think the team did a really great job.”
Construction isn’t done yet, but it’s on track for a mid-September opening, he said. The first event will be a retirement ceremony for a military member who also is a Sanford employee. Events connected to the Sanford International also are planned for next month.
“We do see it being used for corporate parties, corporate recognition events, wedding receptions, and it’s something that we want to provide preferred access to for our employees,” Gassen said.
“We hope our family members at Sanford will be able to rent it out for those purposes at a discounted rate. We want to make sure they feel like it’s their asset and not just something they would use as part of their employment here.”
When Sanford or its employees aren’t using the venue, the plan is to rent it to other businesses and individuals, he said. Rates and availability will be released soon.
