When the worldwide pandemic hit in 2020, the need for in-person events—whether a wedding, corporate meeting or expo—came to a screeching halt. Luckily, the industry has bounced back with gusto, with 88 percent of companies circling back to planning in-person events as of 2022, reports travelperk.com. The benefits of connecting with family, friends, and colleagues in person are many, including better team productivity, relationship-building, and connectivity.
Madison-based event-rental business Event Essentials has felt the ebbs and flows of the industry, and with the uptick of events once again, it was time to expand their facilities to meet that need. Sketchworks Architecture already had a relationship with them having worked on previous projects dating back to 2015, including designing an addition to their existing warehouse and logistics facilities. Back then, discussions were already being held for a future showroom expansion at their current site or selecting a new location.
“The company had outgrown their current facility and wanted to expand their rental offerings while providing a better customer experience with custom displays and a more cohesive office space,” explains Sketchworks partner Brad Koning, AIA. “Their current facility had different departments on two levels and limited area for office expansion.”
In 2022, Brad started working on the next phase, which included designing and constructing a brand-new, 80,000-square-foot corporate office, showroom, and warehouse. Construction began on the new building, adjacent to their former facility, in June 2023 and was completed in May 2024.
The majority of the building consists of insulated, tilt-up concrete panels, which were cast and tilted up on site, saving transportation and labor costs. “[These panels] create a low-maintenance, high-efficiency building envelope,” says Brad. Transom windows located high on the warehouse walls allow natural light into the space to reduce the need for artificial lighting with daylighting controls.
The building’s exterior is wrapped in neutral colors, including gray, black, and white, with touches of wood accents; the interior reflects this aesthetic as well. The reception area has a wood feature wall with Event Essentials’ logo and green furnishings. Picking up on the natural feel, houseplants are thoughtfully placed in employee work areas, on shelving throughout the building, and near windows to soften spaces. High ceilings, copious windows, and recessed lighting also lend employee work areas a decidedly uncorporate feel—in a good way. No fluorescent lighting here.
Employee relaxation areas encourage collaboration and gathering. The conference room and break room showcase refined, neutral spaces with wood accents and comfortable, stylish furnishings. The break room has booths with upholstered benches instead of just round tables—a nice touch. A kitchen island offers seating for five people.
“We worked closely with Event Essentials to create a modern, elegant design for their office space and showroom … to provide their customers with a customizable vision of their event,” says Brad. “The interiors have truly been a collaborative effort, and they appreciated the thoughtful attention to detail to those special areas, such as the main reception, conference room, and employee break room. Developing a building that matches Event Essentials’ goal in both design and functionality has been the fruit of that labor.”
Sketchworks Architecture
2501 Parmenter Street, Suite 300A
Middleton, WI 53562
608.836.7570
sketchworksarch.com