Inspired Interiors Edition 03 by Tellwell

OUR THIRD EDITION FEATURES:

EDITION 03

Widmer Roel Pg. 02 Railyard Offices Pg. 06 North Dakota DOT Pg. 11

INSPIRED INTERIORS BY INTEROFFICE | EDITION 03 | WINTER 2021 | 1

INTERIORS AT WORK

WIDMER ROEL Fargo, North Dakota

After nearly 20 years of rapid growth, Widmer Roel’s old office was bursting at the seams. Their new location, filled with natural light and modern finishes, will allow the firm the space and flexibility they need to continue to grow in the next 20 years. Widmer Roel, a certified public accounting firm in Fargo, North Dakota, has undergone several moves since their inception in 1973. Harris Widmer and Bob Roel started the business out of an office

building in downtown Fargo, and as they added employees, the firm moved into a repurposed home on South University Drive in 1977. When they moved into their most recent location at 18th Avenue South in 2003, they were confident that it would accommodate their team. And it did—for a while. “When I started, we had 13 people total and that included our seasonal staff,” said Tracee Buethner, an audit partner with Widmer Roel since 2001. “Less than two years after we moved in, we ended up having a merger and outgrowing the space. If we’d known how much we were going to grow, and how quickly, we would have designed that space totally differently.”

Photo Credit: Britta Trygstad

WIDMER ROEL Fargo, North Dakota

INSPIRED INTERIORS INTERIORS BY BY INTEROFFICE INTEROFFICE || EDITION EDITION 03 03 || WINTER WINTER 2021 2021 || 33 INSPIRED

“We filled any nook and corner we could for the longest time,

In addition to the lack of space, Widmer Roel’s old office was

but they still didn’t have enough break room or meeting

simply outdated. Dark cherry cabinets and rich red and orange

space,” said Melissa LaBay. “They just didn’t have enough

furniture seemed to absorb what little natural light the crowded

space for all of their people. So that’s when we helped them

space allowed, adding to the claustrophobic atmosphere. One of

build a bigger space.”

their priorities with the new build was curating a space that would withstand the test of time.

Widmer Roel moved into their brand-new South Fargo

By 2021, Widmer Roel had just under 50 full-time employees crammed into a 10,000-foot office. Over the years, Widmer Roel enlisted InterOffice’s support several times to adapt the space to their growing firm—replacing cumbersome desks with smaller workstations, converting large conference rooms into multiple work spaces.

building in May 2021. The project was spearheaded by

“Our culture is so important to us. In order to continue to build

Buethner and Bob Dale, Managing Partner at Widmer Roel

a great company, we need to create a great environment for our

since 1995.

staff,” Buethner said. “We wanted to create a more modern look, something that would last us for the next 15, 20 years.”

“Every inch of our old building was being used. People were working in the hallways,” Dale said. “So in the new build, we have expanded

While LaBay was tasked with furnishing the open office areas and

to 15,300 feet. We’ve created a design that will use all of the space

private offices, her co-worker, Sheila Hanson, coordinated and

and have plenty of storage, yet have a really open feel.”

specified the interior finishes for the new building.

“We had a very clear idea of what we wanted the office

countertop—make anyone who enters the break room

to look like, but it can be difficult to actually visualize

feel right at home.

what it will look like in your space,” Dale said. “Melissa was able to take the colors and finishes we wanted, add

“This is actually the first break room where we’ve done

them to their drawings, and give us a 3D visual of what it

white cabinetry,” Hanson said. “They wanted this space

would look like. She made sure all of the pieces worked

to feel very light and airy. Bob specifically requested

together. We wouldn’t be here without her.”

more of a residential style kitchen where people naturally gather, as opposed to a commercial break room

The new building already had more natural lighting

kitchen.”

than Widmer Roel’s previous office. To bring even more brightness to the space, LaBay and Hanson chose light,

For the fifty new workstations and eighteen private

neutral paint colors with blue-grey undertones that

offices, InterOffice provided Herman Miller Canvas

complemented the blue in Widmer Roel’s logo. LaBay and Hanson also incorporated a few warm accents,

products. The

“

like caramel tile surrounding the

workstations consist

In order to continue to build a great company, we need to create a great environment for our staff.

of three different sizes

-Tracee Buethner

Roel’s changing needs.

fireplace, to create a space that feels

Audit Partner with Widmer Roel

fresh and timeless, while still being welcoming and comfortable.

”

and configurations for multiple levels of staff, are easily navigable, and can be adjusted to accommodate Widmer Electric heightadjustable desks and

Herman Miller Aeron chairs were also incorporated into every workstation and private office to give each

The break room was another priority for Widmer Roel.

employee customizable ergonomic comfort.

They wanted to provide a space where people wanted to be, where employees and customers alike could

“Melissa was able to provide the direction of where we

gather over a cup of coffee, a freshly baked cookie, or a

needed to go. She understood our vision and wanted

potluck-style lunch. InterOffice designed the cabinetry for

to make sure that we got what we wanted and pulled it

the space, as well as storage solutions to keep food and

all together,” Buethner said. “This building just puts us

other supplies out of sight.

right where we need to be for the next 20 years, and beyond.”

White cabinets, double wall ovens, and the centerpiece—a vibrant blue island with quartz

Architecture by MBA Architects, Interior Design by InterOffice

RAILYARD ENCLAVE

Fargo, North Dakota

Photo Credit: Britta Trygstad

Photo Credit: Britta Trygstad

INTERIORS AT WORK

RAILYARD Fargo, North Dakota

With a newly renovated and beautifully decorated space, Railyard Offices is changing the way that work happens.

With the increased attention,

What do a published author, an attorney, and

“real” office.

coworking spaces (and the people who occupy them) have also taken on a few stereotypes. It is often assumed that coworking spaces are reserved for Millennials, typically in tech or creative fields, and that a coworking space is merely a stepping stone on their way to occupying a

a software programmer have in common? They all work out of Railyard Offices, an

Fargo developer, visionary, and

“We want this to be a place that people of any

11,000-square foot coworking space just west

architect Kevin Bartram had seen spaces like

age, in any field, would be proud to work out of

of downtown Fargo.

these while visiting cities across the United

and have represent their brand.”

States. He was inspired by the creativity Coworking spaces have experienced a surge

and community they fostered; but when

Railyard Offices has created an environment

in popularity since the early 2000s; from

he decided to transform an abandoned

that combines the comfort and flexibility of

their origins in cities like New York and San

warehouse into Railyard Offices, he wanted to

home with the amenities and professionalism

Francisco, these communal, flexible office

do things a bit differently.

of a traditional office—without all of the

spaces have begun popping up in smaller

overhead. Membership at Railyard includes

communities across the country—including

“It’s not just a temporary space for growing

24/7 access, free parking, utilities, office

right here in our own backyard.

companies,” said Lori Bartram, General

equipment, and bottomless coffee.

Manager of Railyard Offices and Kevin’s wife. INSPIRED INTERIORS BY INTEROFFICE | EDITION 03 | WINTER 2021 | 7

“

We want this to be a place that people of any age, in any field, would be proud to work out of and have represent their brand. - Lori Bartram

General Manager of Railyard Offices

”

“So often, companies have to outfit their own space,”

Railyard enlisted the help of their neighbor, InterOffice,

Lori said. “They have to come up with the furniture,

to bring these spaces to life by selecting furniture,

the office equipment, and have multiple monthly bills,

flooring, paint colors, cabinetry, and more.

including wi-fi and utilities. Here, all of that’s included in their monthly membership fee.”

They also wanted to provide a variety of seating options to accommodate members’ changing needs

Railyard offers a variety of membership options, from

throughout the day. To ensure the comfort and

daily punch cards to monthly rentals. One of Kevin

productivity of all members, Workspace Expert Levi

and Lori’s priorities was creating a variety of spaces

Hanson selected an assortment of ergonomic furniture

underone roof, where solo workers and organizations

and height-adjustable desks.

could work comfortably in a community of like-minded people.

“When you’re just catching up on emails or phone calls, you can grab a cup of coffee and sit in a Stickley

“Innately, coworking is about bringing different people

Odessa chair, which I think is the most comfortable

into one space,” Lori said. “It really does make for a

chair on the market,” Hanson said. “If you travel a lot

healthier environment for everybody to network and

and need somewhere to touch down, there are OFS

collaborate.”

Heya booths where you can plug in and work all day. If

you’re meeting with a group of people, you can sit at

Upon first glance, the members of Railyard Offices

a high top table or reserve a conference room. There

may not appear to have anything in common;

are so many different areas where you can work,

however, everyone who enters the space shares a

making it inviting to a lot of different people.”

sense of creativity and a desire for community. And now, they share an office where artists, attorneys,

Because Railyard Offices is open to members of all

and authors alike can thrive.

ages and industries, it was essential for InterOffice to help create a space that everyone, from

“Our people obviously are willing to think outside the

photographers to financial representatives, can be

box,” Lori said. “So when they come in here, they’re

proud to show off to clients.

sold.”

“It’s not just eclectic tables and chairs thrown

Architecture by MBA Architects, Interior Design by InterOffice

together, but it’s also not just a stuffy office with a bunch of the same furniture repeated over and over,” Hanson said. “It’s quality furniture in a quality community.”

INSPIRED INTERIORS INTERIORS BY BY INTEROFFICE INTEROFFICE || EDITION EDITION 03 03 || WINTER WINTER 2021 2021 || 99 INSPIRED

Looking for more focus, flexibility, or play in your workspace?

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Photo Credit: Bradley Slaubaugh

INTERIORS AT WORK

North Dakota Department of Transportation Bismarck, North Dakota

While advances in vaccination efforts and the easing of restrictions have allowed many areas of life to return to relative normalcy, new ways of working are not going away anytime soon—and it’s up to agencies like NDDOT to adapt. Offices across the country have reopened in recent months, but many Americans have

days a week and in-office for the others. “Offices are always evolving because of change—changes in technology, communication, privacy, collaboration,” said Kyle Hellman, Workspace Expert at InterOffice. “Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this new way of working has required many offices to consolidate, and rethink how they are using floor space.” Prior to the pandemic, privacy had been the top priority for agencies like the North Dakota Department of Transportation. In 2014, the NDDOT decided to assign each employee their own workstation or private office, which

chosen to continue working from home permanently. Others have transitioned into a hybrid model, working from home for a few

resulted in the agency’s central Bismarck office becoming a “cube farm” consisting of about

350 individual workstations arranged in neat rows.

how many employees would be working remotely, in-office, or both, they shared those numbers with

Fast forward seven years: many of those cubicles sat

Hellman, who devised a plan.

empty, their occupants opting to continue working from home even as other employees transitioned back

While certain employees kept their private offices,

into the office. Plus, there were few spaces for remote

many unused cubicles were replaced by workstations

or hybrid workers to utilize when they did come into

in a variety of sizes and formations to accommodate

the office. Under the leadership of Programming

employees’ unique needs. Touchdown areas,

Engineer Jane Berger and Strategy and Innovation

equipped with Herman Miller Standing Height

Director Russ Buchholz, NDDOT collaborated with

Headway Tables and SETU Stools, give remote

InterOffice to transform the space into a modern,

workers a place to work if they need to be in the office

inviting environment that would work for every kind

for a few hours. Each of the building’s three floors now

of worker.

also includes hoteling stations, a hybrid workstation that home-based employees can rent and use on a

“We relied heavily on InterOffice’s design skills,”

temporary basis.

Berger said. “We might design roads, but we don’t design furniture.”

One of InterOffice’s biggest responsibilities was creating spaces that would allow teammates to

First, the NDDOT team communicated with employees

collaborate, whether or not they are physically

to determine what their work would look like moving

together.

“

You can’t have collaboration if you can’t get people together. Now we’re hearing comments that people want to be here. - Jane Berger

NDDOT Programming Engineer

”

“These days, we have to be communicating more than ever. It’s

That high-top table has become somewhat of a centerpiece

necessary to spur creativity, to spur innovation,” Berger said. “Those

in NDDOT’s office.

things don’t happen unless we’re talking to each other and we have a comfortable space to do that in.”

“It’s like a kitchen table,” Berger said. “Everyone wants to be there.”

InterOffice suggested modular DIRTT walls to construct hybrid meeting rooms for 4-5 people. Inside each of these rooms sits a Herman Miller

And that’s what the goal was from the very beginning: to

Headway tapered conference table with table top power, connected

create a space where people want to be. Even if some

to a monitor that allows remote workers to be part of brainstorming

choose to work remotely most, if not all, days of the week,

sessions and other important conversations. They also curated casual,

NDDOT employees now know they have a comfortable,

open-concept collaboration spaces, furnished with a variety of Herman

welcoming homebase to return to.

Miller Plex chairs and tables. “My favorite part is seeing employees’ faces when they see “We recognize that different people have different needs at different

the new space for the first time,” Berger said. “You can’t have

times,” Berger said. “We wanted to provide them with furniture options

collaboration if you can’t get people together. Now we’re

that we have never had before, like some soft seating and a high-top

hearing comments that people want to be here.”

table that they can sit or stand at.”

14 | INSPIRED INTERIORS BY INTEROFFICE | EDITION 03 | WINTER 2021

The Loft Collection

The Loft collection includes gorgeous wood, sparkling glass, and other down-to-earth materials. This is quality furniture that never goes out of style.

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Fargo

1630 1st Ave N Suite A, Fargo, ND 58102 M-TH: 8:00AM - 5:00PM F: 8:00AM - 1:00PM Phone: (701) 232-3013

Bismarck

920 E Front Ave, Bismarck, ND 58504 M-TH: 8:00AM - 5:00PM F: 8:00AM - 1:00PM Phone: (701) 751-2998

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