High powered Border States Electric moves in to new $45 million HQ

By Tom Dennis. All images: Border States Electric

FARGO, N.D. – The copper and aged bronze colors on the exterior of Border States Electric’s new headquarters here are no accident. They’re meant to reflect the electrical components that Border States distributes – products that have powered the company’s growth from two electrical-supply salesmen in 1952 to more than 2,200 employee-owners today.

The $45 million, 120,000-square-foot Branch Support Center is located near North Dakota’s busiest corner: the intersection of interstates 29 and 94. When it opened in February, some 360 workers who’d been scattered at three facilities across Fargo moved in, said Tom Nelson, corporate communications director.

“We’re a growing company, now with more than $2 billion in annual sales and over 100 branches in 22 states,” Nelson said.

“Parking constraints and the costs of leasing the building we were in and of renovating a 25-year-old warehouse into office space were all factors in deciding to build.”

Plus, “we’re in a competitive hiring market, and the Branch Support Center will certainly help us recruit and retain the best talent,” he said.

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Hammel, Green & Abrahamson Inc. designed the building, with Mortenson serving as lead contractor. Key features include:

· Next-generation mesh wireless technology, allowing for seamless connectivity anywhere in the facility

· More than 600 acoustic dampening (white noise) speakers throughout the building to lessen distractions and allow for collaborative and mobile workforce

· Conference rooms with “Switched Privacy Glass” or “Smart Glass”

· Integrated HVAC, lighting and shade controls to reduce energy consumption, capture natural light (light harvesting) and provide for consistent temperature control

· Integrated display technologies throughout the building that provide up-to-date information

· Skype for Business meeting spaces with audio and video capabilities via an integrated one-touch meeting management system.

– Tom Dennis Editor, Prairie Business tdennis@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

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