Posts in category: News

Four Generations of Grasmick Produce

“Grandchildren are a grandparent’s link to the future. Grandparents are the child’s link to the past.”

In the 1950s, Henry Grasmick and his son Dutch were potato farmers in Eastern Idaho. Together, they ran a successful farm and, on a trip to Boise, brought some potatoes with them for family. After realizing they brought too many, Dutch called Joe Albertson and offered to sell him some. Mr. Albertson accepted his offer, and an unexpected business relationship formed.

Dutch thereafter began transporting pickup loads of spuds to Boise regularly until he decided to move to Boise and start a produce distribution business. In1955, the Grasmick family rented out the basement of a bar near downtown Boise and began building the business. Henry Grasmick and his wife, Lillian Grasmick, handled the finances, while Dutch and his wife, Karleen, handled packing, sales, and distribution. Every member of the Grasmick family was involved in learning and growing the business. After moving locations a few times, Grasmick finally settled in Garden City, where it stands today.

The Fourth Generation

Angela Reed is Henry’s great-granddaughter and the fourth-generation owner of Grasmick Produce. She wears many hats at the woman-owned company and oversees a massive operation distributing produce throughout Idaho and Montana, with some activity in Wyoming, Eastern Oregon, and Washington. While the primary facility is still in Garden City, Grasmick has additional facilities in Idaho Falls, Spokane, Twin Falls, and Bozeman. On any given day, Grasmick trucks will cover hundreds of miles supplying their partners. Their headquarters alone will process over 20 truckloads of produce a week before distributing it to their partners, primarily restaurants, schools, grocery stores, and state institutions.

The Values of Grasmick Produce

While working in and out of Idaho, Grasmick is still unique in the Treasure Valley. They have been locally owned and part of the community for over 70 years. Angela quite literally grew up in the business; her playpen was where the conference room is today. She was raised not only by her mom but also by her grandparents. Angela spent time working in the warehouse after school and during the summer with her grandfather. She swept floors, cleaned out trucks, baled potatoes, and did any other needed job.

During that time, her grandfather taught her the importance of performing every job, no matter how small, so that her results exceeded expectations. By example and training, Dutch also taught Angela the importance of remembering people’s names, looking them in the eye, and being truly present in a conversation.

Dutch also taught Angela the importance of a good handshake and standing by your promises. These lessons have stuck with her ever since. “My favorite part of my job is seeing employees grow over time and push themselves to become a better version of who they are.” -Angela Reed

Beginning Renovation

When Angela left her career as an attorney to become the CEO of Grasmick, she wanted to bring who she was to the business. That started with renovating the traditional 1980s office space full of wall paneling, low ceilings, and poor lighting. Coming from a partnership at a large law firm where she had a lovely office space, Angela wanted to bring that same feel to Grasmick. She delayed the decision for a few years while getting her feet under her, but she began renovating last year.

Transforming The Space

Today’s space has with high ceilings, exposed HVAC and beams, sleek glass modular walls, branded workstations, conference rooms, and many sound clouds. Grasmick faced a unique challenge ptimizing the space for their staff, so they ended up enclosing part of a dock to make room for their 16 office staff members. Next came space planning. “My mom and I took this project on ourselves and came to Wendy (designer) and Jill (sales consultant) at OEC with a sketch of what we wanted. We soon realized we were in way over our heads and worked with them and the GC to space plan. OEC was extremely patient with us, especially when I changed my mind more than I would like to admit. They were fabulous.”

Building A Team And A Culture

With the renovation complete, the Grasmick team is loving their new space. The office staff is working well, and Angela is excited about the future. Her number one goal is to take care of her employees. She still carries her grandfather’s values with her as she continually works to build a great team, culture, and environment for everyone.

 "My favorite part of my job is seeing employees grow over time and push themselves to become a better version of who they are. Knowing I have done that is really rewarding." 

As Grasmick Produce grows in its existing service areas, reflecting on what a family can accomplish over four generations is heartwarming. And what can be more satisfying than watching a granddaughter step into her grandfather’s shoes?

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below:

Message From The President

Building trust is important in every organization. One way to build trust is through transparency. How transparent is your leadership team?

Transparency In Leadership Workspaces

Your space can help increase transparency in an organization. One way is to literally increase transparency; in other words, build spaces where leadership team members can be seen by others during the day. This can be accomplished by placing leader’s workspaces among their team members or by separating them with glass barriers that are fully or semitransparent.

Displaying Organization Values

Another way to improve transparency is building spaces where you display your company mission, values, goals, and progress. Then reinforce these to team members. This can be done through digital signage, analog signage, whiteboards, and other similar tools that can be placed throughout the space to communicate and reinforce what is happening in the organization.

Start using your space to build transparency today! For more ideas on building transparency in your space, feel free to reach out to myself or my team anytime.

Sincerely,

Scott Galloway

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below:

Three questions to ask when choosing the best office chair for you

Sitting – we all do it, some of us more than others. But for those who spend a lot of time working at a desk, sitting can cause a lot of discomfort and pain because, the fact is, most of us sit wrong. The human body is designed to move, but when we sit we’re often sitting in a static position for an extended period of time or adopt unhealthy habits such as slouching and that’s a problem.

Often, you’re sitting in a chair that isn’t designed to support the work you’re doing. Or, the office chair has not been properly adjusted for your body. But with so many office chairs to choose from, how do you know which chair is right for you? Here are three questions you should ask yourself when trying to find your perfect seating companion:

1. Do you usually sit for long periods of time?

The more time you spend sitting the more important it becomes to sit in a chair that provides a greater degree of ergonomic support. Whether you’re working in the office or at home, it’s important to sit in a chair that supports a healthy posture, encourages you to move and keeps you in the optimal zone for seeing and reaching your work.

2. Are you sitting at an owned workstation or shared workstation?

Fewer organizations are providing assigned desks to employees so many people will now be sitting in shared seating. That seating will most likely need adjustment. If the chair has not been adjusted properly for you, you’re likely to experience some discomfort and pain. Most people either don’t know how to adjust their chair or simply don’t like to adjust their chair. The vast majority only adjust the height and arms on their chair, but other adjustments such as the seat and back are never adjusted.

3. Do you want to be in full control of your sitting experience? Do you want to dial in the adjustments to your chair or let the chair do it for you?

Our Steelcase office chairs are designed to be either weight-activated or manually adjusted. It’s important to understand the difference. Weight-activated chairs support you as much as possible with minimal adjustments. They respond to your body weight, providing the right amount of back tension as you recline and get comfortable quickly. These chairs are great for shared seating where multiple people are using one chair throughout the day (such as conference rooms, shared desks, WFH with multiple users). The chair naturally responds to the body’s movement to provide the appropriate level of support.

Manually-adjusted chairs let you dial in a precise fit by adjusting the tension or amount of resistance you feel in your back as you recline to your personal preference. These chairs allow you to adjust the chair 100% to your body. They provide the most support possible and are ideal for people who spend the majority of their time sitting for long periods of time at an owned workstation in the office or at home.

At Steelcase, we have a deep history of innovation in seating. This stems from our research and understanding of people and how they work. We offer a wide selection of high-performance ergonomic office chairs to address various needs, aesthetics preferences and budget. All Steelcase high-performance office chairs feature our LiveBack^® technology. This allows the backrest to flex, contour and mimic the natural movement of the spine. It also encourages you to move and maintain a healthy posture. Adjustable features, such as 4D arms, seat depth and back tension and recline enable the chairs to fit people from the 5th to the 95th percentile. In this way, one chair fits the broadest range of shapes and sizes.

Steelcase Weight-activated Seating Choices

Steelcase Karman

Sit back and let physics do its job. With a proprietary performance textile and impossibly light frame, Steelcase Karman goes beyond leading mesh office chairs to provide effortless comfort. This is the chair for you if you’re seeking comfort and just want to sit and get to work without having to worry about adjusting your chair. Steelcase Karman’s patented hybrid seat is unlike any other. The suspension seat with integrated cushioning provides maximum comfort for as long as you sit. The ultra-light frame flexes to eliminate painful pressure points common in other mesh chairs. An industry-leading color range, with several proprietary Intermix colors and Lux finishes, make infinite aesthetic options possible.

Think

Think was the first chair we designed with a weight-activated mechanism allowing you to sit down and get comfortable quickly. Your body weight does most of the work. Designed for a mobile workforce, Think was an exciting breakthrough at the time. It is even more relevant today with the rise of hybrid work. Think was also a sustainability pioneer – fewer parts make it easier to disassemble and recycle. That’s a win/win for both you and the planet.

Steelcase Series 2

Steelcase Series 2 features our signature Air LiveBack^® technology. This works through an innovative geometric design that provides sophisticated support. The specially-engineered wave pattern scales to provide support for each part of the spine. It allows the spine to flex in multiple dimensions to create responsive, personalized comfort and fit. Responsive back tension, 4D adjustable arms and adaptive seat bolstering ensure continuous comfort and ergonomic support. A height-adjustable lumbar is also available when you select microknit or 3D knit back options. Other back options include quilted or standard upholstery.

Steelcase Series 1

Looking for best-in-class ergonomic essentials, quality, lots of choice and a great price?  Steelcase Series 1 chair is for you. LiveBack flexors conform to your spine to provide flexibility and support throughout the day. Several mix-and-match knit, flexor and lumbar colors, and a wide range of shell and finish options, offers an abundance of choice to match your personality, culture or brand.

Steelcase Manually-adjusted Seating Choices

Gesture

If you’re looking for maximum support for long-term sitting, Gesture is the chair for you. After a Steelcase Global Study identified nine new postures people have adopted while using new technologies, we designed Gesture to support every posture, task and technology. 360-degree arms to mimic the human arm and adjust through a full range of motion. This comfortably supports you while you work no matter what the device. All adjustments are located on the right side of the chair, making it super easy to find and adjust. 3D LiveBack technology provides the highest degree of flexibility and support as you move and shift postures, bend side-to-side or twist. Add a headrest to Gesture for long-term comfort or gaming.

Leap

Leap is the ultimate office chair for adjustability and a dialed-in, precise fit for people needing a little extra support and wanting more control of their adjustments. LiveBack technology changes shape to support the spine in its natural, healthy S-shape. It provides continuous lower back support and a lower back firmness control allows you to dial in the lumbar support. Natural Glide System allows the seat to glide forward as you can recline. It also keeps you in the optimal zone for seeing and reaching your work. Simple controls are clearly labeled and easy to use.

Amia + Amia Air

Amia offers the best combination of performance and style. With two back options, Amia is a versatile chair that fits any work environment. A hidden advanced LiveLumbar system flexes as you move, providing consistent, dynamic support for your lower back. Amia Air’s back design flexes in two dimensions to encourage movement and posture change. Choose from a variety of Air back colors or warm it up with 3D Microknits for additional choices.

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below:

Jeff Adams is the VP of Sales at MPS acoustics based in Dallas, Texas. When he started with MPS, he knew nothing about acoustics, commercial real estate, contract furniture, or architecture and design. Needless to say, he has learned a lot over the last six years, so we invited him to tell us all about why acoustics are essential in a commercial space and how they can add to a room’s overall design.

The Relationship Between Noise + Productivity

Acoustics is the science encompassing sound transmission, noise reduction, acoustical and speech privacy, and more. Managing room acoustics in an office, recording studio, auditorium, and around machinery differ significantly. While improving the acoustical quality in a work environment is complicated, MPS is striving to Make Privacy Simple by doing the heavy lifting for clients.

“People don’t often think about the effect noise, distractions, and the lack of privacy have on them. Studies show that these constant pressures take a toll on worker productivity and health.” MPS knows that people need quiet to focus and have private conversations. Without that, their jobs get so much harder.

The ABC’s Of Acoustic Design

While there is no one size fits all solution to achieving excellent acoustics, MPS advocates for following the ABCs of acoustic design.

A stands for Absorption. Every material has a noise reduction coefficient or NRC. Hard surfaces have a very low NRC, reflecting sound waves rather than absorbing them.

With a space full of hard surfaces like a traditional conference room, sound reverberates off those surfaces. The key to fixing this problem is introducing softer surfaces like soft seating, plants, ceiling baffles, or even artwork for sound absorption.

B stands for Blocking. If you put someone in a room with four walls, a ceiling, and a door, you will have better privacy.

“Sound is like water; anywhere there is a leak, you will lose sound, so we look at the sound transmission class or STC rating to know how much sound an item will block. While we would love everyone to have a private office, real estate can’t always support that. Instead, we recommend using products like modular walls to block sound.”

C stands for Covering over conversations with white noise sound masking to make them less intelligible. While sound masking doesn’t reduce noise, it sends out frequencies of human speech that mask the human voice. Humans are predisposed to eavesdropping, which is distracting, so covering those voices in open plan offices provides privacy and focus.

Bypassing Bad Acoustics

Businesses typically know when they need better acoustics, which can be highly frustrating when they have invested heavily in a new space. Ways to mitigate that common frustration are threefold. Start by adding acoustics to the project budget, bring in an acoustics expert to have those critical acoustical conversations, and focus heavily on the areas you already know will need more privacy.

Mitigating Sound With Style

While everyone is aware of acoustical panels thanks to their high school cafeterias and gyms, they are not a very stylish solution. That is why MPS uses technology that mitigates noise without sacrificing style.

“The technology out there is amazing, and we want the customer to express themselves through the product. Our panels are customizable and flexible. We can create unique designs, provide woodgrain prints, and even do custom matching and branding. In many ways, we have a blank canvas open to creativity.”

Jeff Adams

In addition to a highly flexible product, MPS has a team of in-house designers that can take a napkin sketch to install.

Whether MPS is working with a designer, end user, or collaborating with an audio-visual integrator, their goal is to provide acoustic solutions so people can do their jobs better. Fortunately for their clients, MPS makes privacy simple with style.

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below:

Catie Buck has worked in commercial interior design for years, and her passion for the industry recently led her to open her own studio, Josephine West.

” I get so passionate about commercial design. My biggest inspiration simply comes from the business owner and learning about their brand (or business). I can help implement their branding as well as encourage a team culture through the design. It’s a win-win for the owner, investing in their employees and making a lasting impression for their visitors.”

Catie Buck

Between working on multiple tenant improvements, a salon, and a large corporate office, Catie sat down with us to discuss what is trending in 2023 and what is out of style.

Trend 1: Boutique Home-like Spaces.

Team building spaces are great opportunities to add splashes of color to encourage socialization and help work relationships in an upbeat atmosphere. Playful fabrics, and bold artwork can add a casual touch to these social areas. Also, consider home-like, restful, quiet spaces where employees can spend focus time or take breaks throughout the day. The overall design of these spaces should incorporate soothing materials, greenery, and a variety of comfortable furniture options. Acoustic solutions are also important to help reduce noise and/or eliminate distractions.

Trend 2: Muted Tones Contrasted With Bright Colors.

For example, taupe and earth tone colors are in, balanced by pops of bright and saturated colors like raspberry pink or chartreuse.

Trend 3: Quirky Patterns + Unique Textures.

Adding patterns or textures in strategic places can make a great first impression. I am obsessed with chairs, especially sculptural ones, so adding a beautiful chair is terrific. Combine that with punches of color, and you can make the space look more interesting and
dimensional.

Outdated Trend: Gray is out!

Use medium warm + cool tones instead.

Ehron Baskin has been in the design industry for over thirty years, working in residential and
commercial design with Design Collaborative, Inc. She is fairly new to the Treasure Valley and growing her local clientele while designing remotely for projects in California.

“My favorite space to design is a lobby. It is the first thing people see when they enter a space, and you get to set the tone and create a feeling when they walk in the room.”

Ehron Baskin

Between trips to California, Ehron met with us to share the trends she loves and which to pass on.

Trend 1: Organic materials, textures, and patterns are in.

That includes mixed materials like wood, stone to create stability, natural colors, plant walls, and floral designs. I like to use these materials as focal points in lobbies, so they make a statement. Geometric patterns like chevrons, honeycombs, and hexagons are also widely used, and lighting is becoming more artistic.

Trend 2: Collaboration is on the rise, and minimalism is preferred.

I am working with a group of engineers, and they do not want high cubicle walls. They want to see each other, talk and collaborate with as little separation as possible. They also don’t want much stuff on their desks and keep everything they need in a small storage space.

Trend 3: Businesses are adding dedicated health and wellness rooms.

Whether it is a space for a nursing mother, a private conversation, or a small collaboration space, companies are creating spaces where employees can get away to sit in quiet.

Outdated Trend: Gray’s are out, and we are moving to warm tones. Matte finishes are replacing shiny ones, and while fluorescent colors are making a scene, I’ve lived that already and would probably pass on it.

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below:

Featuring Karena Gilbert with Colliers International

After receiving a degree in Construction Management and working in commercial construction, Karena Gilbert got her real estate license in 2012. Her favorite part of her construction job was working with owners, so switching to commercial real estate allowed her to do that full-time. At the same time, the construction background allows Karena to visualize what a space can be, which provides a unique experience for clients who choose to work with her.

“I enjoyed working with a client this year who leased a building for many years and were looking to purchase an existing building or build new. Having that construction background allowed me to assist my client through their options and ultimately the whole process.”

Karena Gilbert

Some of Karena’s clients include local businesses that are expanding. One recent example is Boise Regional Realtors. They wanted to provide their members with more room for parking and classes, so Karena assisted them in the sale and lease back of their existing location as well as securing land and working with the development team on the new construction. She also works with landlords looking to stabilize their properties; working with new and existing tenants. Karena has found that relationship building is the key to knowing what her clients need, delivering on their needs, and creating trust.

Today, Karena builds those relationships while working for Colliers, specializing in office investments and leasing. “What makes Colliers unique is that the Boise office is locally owned but part of a global support network. It is fun and rewarding to work with the many agents and brokers in other offices.” With extensive knowledge and experience working in the Treasure Valley market, we asked Karena to share some of the 2023 commercial real estate trends she sees.

“What makes Colliers unique is that the Boise office is locally owned but part of a global support network. It is fun and rewarding to work with the many agents and brokers in other offices.”

Karena Gilbert

Attracting Talent.

Attracting and retaining talent is a big trend in Boise. Unlike San Francisco or Denver, Boise has a smaller population and fewer employees per company. Therefore, about 80% of the real estate deals are under 4,000 s.f. In a city ripe with highly skilled, educated and community minded people, we’re finding businesses thriving and employees have returned to the office. There is still a degree of remote and hybrid work and business owners are looking to us to assist them in getting people back to the office as well as attract and retain new talent. The benefits of having employees in the office include collaboration, mentorship, and a sense of community and business are looking for healthy, collaborative and inviting locations.

More Grade A Buildings Under Construction.

Many local businesses are expanding, and the scales are tipping toward over 10,000 s.f. office spaces. To help, developers are constructing some gorgeous Class A buildings. The 11th & Idaho building and Eagleview Landing development are a few examples of these large-scale buildings that can accommodate.

Vacancy is low.

Our vacancy rate is low compared to large cities in surrounding states. Business owners have to move on a space quickly or they could lose out. While many large cities feel the effects of inflation and a possible recession, we still see a lot of growth and opportunity. For example, I have a lot of clients in the service industry that need a second location. We are bracing for a recession but have yet to see it.

What To Watch For In The Future.

I think we will see many more high-performance, smart building models. 40% of our annual global CO2 emissions come from buildings and structures. Through smart design, construction and operations, we can reduce the impact.  Tenants are seeking healthier spaces and building owners are seeing the economic benefits, which include reduced operating cost, shorter payback periods and increase in asset value. 

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below:

The Idaho State Supreme Court Renovation

The Idaho State Supreme Court building was constructed between 1969 and 1970 and functions as the highest court in Idaho. To show its importance, the exterior was designed with sharp angles, tinted windows, and simplified materials. The building was once credited as one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture added to the Downtown Boise Capitol Mall.

The modern judicial system prioritizes access and public service. This last year, the Supreme Court staff updated their building, creating an interior that is more inviting and colorful than ever. The project came together through the vision of Finance & Operations Director Michelle Crist-Aguiar and the implementation of Facilities Manager Tye Nelson. To learn more about the transformation, we sat down with Tye.

The Necessity For Renovation

As the facilities manager, Tye is the “fix it” guy. He ensures everything is in line at all times (even if it occasionally feels like herding cats). It is a big job considering the 50-year-old building has gone from holding 40 people at its construction to over 140 today. That growth and the fact that the building has not been renovated over that time has been the driving factor for the renovation.

“It has been over 50 years since the building was constructed, and this is our first major upgrade,” Tye said. “There was a huge need to take the existing space and make it fit today’s uses.” For example, the 1^st floor workspace was redesigned to provide additional meeting space, which was in short supply.  Through the strategic placement of these spaces and transition to glass walls, the team also addressed noise and lighting issues.

The Court’s Function & Functionality

The Idaho Supreme Court staff has grown not for growth’s sake, but to better support the state’s judicial system as it sustains a growing population. The Supreme Court building houses staff who support all the court systems throughout the state. They develope court processes, maintain court technology, and offer training and support for judges and court staff.

It is a centralized hub of activity, and renovating the building was critical to the staff’s continued productive work. Part of that functionality has been integrating technology into the space. With so many court personnel connecting across Idaho, adding meeting rooms with necessary technology has allowed everyone to connect quickly and easily, making a massive difference in a state that is so geographically spread out.

Redesigning To Support The Staff

To redesign and breathe life into the space, the team worked with CSHQA architects. They revisited existing spaces, relocating divisions, adding color and texture, and generally bringing everything up to date. Furniture also played a significant role in the change, which is where OEC stepped in. OEC helped relocate existing furniture and install new private offices, conference rooms, workstations, privacy walls, and more. “Working with OEC was really good. When I asked for a favor, they did it. Tim and Riley quickly let me know if about supply chain issues. They did things to make a difference for me. Even their install crew came in on the weekend to get things done because they knew I needed it.”

The new furniture offered functionality that the old space lacked. Additionally modern finishes made it a place people love to work. Between new furniture, layout, colors, and some fantastic murals, the Supreme Court looks better than ever.

Creating A Space Where People Love To Work

Better yet, the staff is excited about where they work. “My favorite part of this project has been seeing people’s faces when they return to work, knowing they have more space,” Tye said. “… People are bringing plants, pictures and making it home. Knowing that our effort to make a great space has impacted their happiness has been the best part of this entire renovation.”

With the space now working in tandem with the team, the Idaho Supreme Court staff is ready and equipped to tackle the judicial needs of Idaho for years to come.

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below:

One of the favorite parts of my job is walking through the building and seeing our 50+ employees engaged in diverse business activities in spaces designed for that purpose. I like to see and feel the energy created when talented people work together to solve problems. High performing businesses are fairly complex to create. But I think there some very basic components of business performance that are universal and formulaic. Here is one formula I think makes sense:

People + Place + Passion = Energy.   P(3) = E

People: the first P in the formula is the talent on your team. The right people doing the right job working in a system that holds them accountable and rewards/recognizes good work.

Place: the second P is the place where people work. The key here is Intentional thought and design about what kind of work happens in the various spaces in the building.

Passion: Is there a company mission people are working towards that is bigger than money or one particular task?

Is your organization leveraging the three Ps that generate energy and help everybody feel more energy?

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below:

When adding audio-visual technology into your space, it is essential to get it right the first time. OEC’s Vice President of Technology, Josh Messner, and Senior Designer, Adam Young, join us to share some common AV mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Doing It Yourself

OEC: Josh and Adam, as experts in audio-visual technology integration, what are some of the most common mistakes businesses make?

Josh: The first problem that comes to mind is when a business tries to go it alone. I’ve had companies go straight to Amazon and order a plug-and-play device they think will have the functionality they want. For example, they might bring in a product, and once they use it, it isn’t what they thought it would be. It looks terrible, sounds terrible, and doesn’t work. Many plug-and-play devices will give a different experience than a professional organization wants their clients to have. It doesn’t matter what size company you have; you are constantly marketing yourself. If you have a piece of equipment that makes you look bad, that is bad for business.

Adam: In the end, the amount you pay to work with an integrator is not much different because your IT department has to support and manage all of that technology. You may pay a little more for an integrator to come in and set up a few rooms, but if something happens, they can fix it, and the product is under warranty. The IT staff also doesn’t have to manage the AV anymore. By working with an integrator, you get vetted products, clean installations, and a partner should problems arise.

2. Waiting Too Long On AV

OEC: What is another mistake you have seen lately?

Josh: Another mistake is waiting until late in the construction phase to engage with an integrator. Usually, AV ends up being one of the last things companies consider integrating. Companies should consider AV with furniture since the two need to work together. By forgetting AV, you miss out on building the technology into the scope of the space. So you get a scenario where you have this cool room and furniture plans, and everything looks great. Then you bring in the furniture and wonder, how do we fit AV into it? Did the AV specify a touch panel? If the table has a glass top, how does that work?

That becomes an RFI, which delays the project. So, now we’re requesting information from the general contractor saying, “Hey, we didn’t think about this early enough. What are we going to do?” And that could be a two-week delay to get a wire through the table. Then the furniture company might come back and say, “We need a change order to swap the table or to drill a hole through the table,” which could void the warranty. If the AV integrator is at the table sooner, they can discuss wire access, pathways, and furniture. By waiting, things get more expensive and time-consuming.

3. Room Acoustics

OEC: Josh, can you give us one more mistake to wrap things up?

Josh: Absolutely. The last mistake I’d highlight is around room acoustics. We currently have a client with many great conference rooms but terrible acoustics. The meetings sound terrible because there is a lot of reverberation in the room. That means we have to come in and take the room offline to design a solution, wait for the product, and then take the room offline again to install it. In this scenario, the employees may have had so many bad experiences that they have lost faith in the technology and don’t want to use the room. Organizationally, you have to build trust in the systems that people are already afraid of. If it doesn’t work, that trust falls away even more.

Adam: If we can get into the conversation early, we ask questions upfront. Is the room going to be three-quarters glass? Is there going to be a hard, reflective floor? Diving into those questions helps us decide on different solutions like sound masking, speakers, and wall treatments. Doing our due diligence up front can really help the client later.

Watch our Creating High Performing Hybrid Collaboration Spaces webinar recording for more tips.

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below:

The year was 1993, and Brian Ellsworth was between construction jobs. He was hanging some sheetrock when Larry Kincaid walked in the door. “You’re not very good at that,” Larry said. “You know, maybe we ought to start a construction company.” Although Brian’s sheetrock skills may have been lacking, his construction management skills were stellar, and when paired with Larry’s field experience, a great partnership began, and EKC Construction was born.

Type of Construction

EKC Construction does a variety of work, from minor tenant improvements to sizeable pre-engineered metal buildings. They work with several public agencies, Boise city and county, the State of Idaho, federal agencies, school districts, and private companies. While most of their work is in the commercial realm, they do the occasional residential project for a repeat customer. One of the first projects they did was Bear Creek Lodge at the base of Brundage.

Working with Clients

However, if Brian had his way, he would love to do more design-build projects, especially with EKC’s partnership with Butler (one of the first pre-engineered building companies around). “Using the back of a napkin, I can help the client figure out what a building will cost from schematic design to construction drawings. Sometimes these projects take a couple of years to go from the back of the napkin to an erected building. That’s the type of project I really like.”

EKC Projects

EKC is working on a couple of such projects right now. The first is a remodel of Joe’s Crab Shack, nestled beside the Boise River. Over the years, the building has gone into disarray and EKC has been tasked with restoring and reimagining it. They are paying a lot of attention to the existing architecture while transforming it into an upscale Ling & Louie’s that should open in May. They are also constructing a new brewery in downtown Eagle that will be a great addition to the city.

Projects around Idaho

Some of EKC’s larger projects extend beyond the Treasure Valley. They are working in McCall with
Idaho Power and doing a design-build with a plumbing supply company in Twin Falls. A unique project is a Jewish center in Boise called a Chabad, where they will funnel rainwater collected from the roof into a pool used for rituals. Medical facilities also make up a large part of EKC’s client base, and they have been happy to frequently partner with St. Alphonsus, Sagala, and Full Circle.

Growth Over The Years

Since 1993, EKC has grown from a two-man show to 24 people. Larry and Brian worked together for seventeen years until Larry stepped away and Brian took the helm. Today, Brian owns 51% of the company. The remaining 49% is owned by two key employees. This allows him to stay at the helm while teaching everyone about the lessons he has learned over the last twenty-seven years. Because EKC is purely a general contractor and management company, they partner with First Call, a construction worker, and carpentry company, to self-perform some of the work.

What Makes EKC Unique

To grow your business in a competitive market, you have to set yourself apart from the competition. EKC’s unique offering is how much they concentrate on personal relationships with their clients and use the best technology available to manage projects. “We are state of the art regarding what is available to run projects. While there are bigger companies, we strive to be more personal. Here you will work with one of the principles. We don’t strive to be the biggest company, but we do strive to be the best.”

Being The Best

EKC also has a unique definition of what it looks like to be the best. Something extremely important to Brian is supporting the community, specifically how it grows. “I served on planning and zoning as a
volunteer for nine years and then on various nonprofit boards. When growth happens fast, it is hard to control. Boise has a lot of recreational opportunities that don’t exist in other places. As we grow, we need to protect the things that make Boise special. I believe we can help with that as a company.”

Whether reimagining an old restaurant or constructing a massive medical facility, EKC looks forward to building spaces of importance one project at a time.

Receive our Newsletter

To receive our newsletter, including new editions of spaces and other digital content, fill out the form below: