As modern agricultural equipment continues to get larger and more sophisticated, the buildings that sell and service those massive earthmovers must do the same.
That’s why High Plains Equipment, an independent Case IH dealership in Devils Lake, N.D., decided to replace its existing cramped quarters with a spacious, state-of-the-art metal building.
“We needed to do this for our customers. It’s as simple as that,” says John Swenseth, the company’s owner/operator.
The new space—a 38,117-sf facility with a 7,950-sf second-level mezzanine—is three times the size of the former building, improving the dealership’s ability to serve its growing customer base.
Situated on a 22-acre site along U.S. Highway 2, the new building replaces the dealership’s existing 12,000-sf building located on a much less visible site.
“Now we get people stopping in here who didn’t even realize there was a Case IH dealer in town,” Swenseth says.
The project’s three buildings include a symmetrically gabled structure and two lean-to buildings, each braced by the gabled structure.
The facility’s large clear span enabled the installation of a dozen 25-foot service bays, twice as many and twice as large as in the previous facility.
The main structure also houses two 5-ton bridge cranes, each extending 175 feet and spanning 35 feet.
“The overhead cranes are making life easier and less strenuous for our technicians,” Swenseth says. “With more shop space, we’re able to hire more technicians and they can work inside instead of outside in the mud.”
Because technicians now have the space to work on more than one job at a time, productivity has been boosted. And the facility’s three overhead doors and dedicated wash bay contribute to improved operational efficiency.
“This is a very nice technical shop,” says Mike Dunn, business development manager of Construction Engineers Ltd., the Star builder in Grand Fork, N.D. “It includes floor heat and an air-conditioning system to keep the technicians comfortable year-round.”
The new facility also includes an expanded merchandise and display area as well as an indoor expo room and kitchen for hosting customer training clinics and community events.
“It’s a good experience for customers when they come in,” Swenseth says. “It’s big and open and clean and modern. They appreciate that.”
A fast-track, design-build construction schedule enabled the building team to complete the project in about eight months.
“We assembled a lot of the frames and the roof structure on the ground, and brought a crane onsite to lift larger portions of it into place to save time and increase safety on the project,” Dunn says. “We were able to take advantage of the short building season and meet the owner’s timeline to complete the building in time for the spring selling and service season.”
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Feb 21, 2023
Multifamily housing investors favoring properties in the Sun Belt
Multifamily housing investors are gravitating toward Sun Belt markets with strong job and population growth, according to new research from Yardi Matrix. Despite a sharp second-half slowdown, last year’s nationwide $187 billion transaction volume was the second-highest annual total ever.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 21, 2023
New multifamily housing and mixed-use buildings in Portland, Ore., must be ready for electric vehicle charging
The Portland, Ore., City Council recently voted unanimously to require all new residential and mixed-use buildings to be ready for electric vehicle charging. The move amends Portland’s zoning laws to require all new multi-dwelling and mixed-use development of five or more units with onsite parking to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
K-12 Schools | Feb 18, 2023
Atlanta suburb opens $85 million serpentine-shaped high school designed by Perkins&Will
In Ellenwood, Ga., a southeast suburb of Atlanta, Perkins and Will has partnered with Clayton County Public Schools and MEJA Construction to create a $85 million secondary school. Morrow High School, which opened in fall 2022, serves more than 2,200 students in Clayton County, a community with students from over 30 countries.
Museums | Feb 17, 2023
First Americans Museum uses design metaphors of natural elements to honor native worldview
First Americans Museum (FAM) in Oklahoma City honors the 39 tribes in Oklahoma today, reflecting their history through design metaphors of nature’s elements of earth, wind, water, and fire. The design concept includes multiple circles suggested by arcs, reflecting the native tradition of a circular worldview that encompasses the cycle of life, the seasons, and the rotation of the earth.
Architects | Feb 17, 2023
Architect of the Capitol fired by President Biden after strong bipartisan criticism
Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton was let go this week following alleged abuse of authority, misuse of government property, and wasted taxpayer money.
High-rise Construction | Feb 15, 2023
Bjarke Ingels' 'leaning towers' concept wins Qianhai Prisma Towers design competition
A pair of sloped high-rises—a 300-meter residential tower and a 250-meter office tower—highlight the Qianhai Prisma Towers development in Qianhai, Shenzhen, China. BIG recently won the design competition for the project.
Senior Living Design | Feb 15, 2023
Passive House affordable senior housing project opens in Boston
Work on Phase Three C of The Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony, a 55-apartment midrise building in Boston that stands out for its use of Passive House design principles, was recently completed. Designed by The Architectural Team (TAT), the four-story structure was informed throughout by Passive House principles and standards.
Designers | Feb 13, 2023
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers Establishes Diversity Advancement Scholarship Fund
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers, a design firm specializing in the rehabilitation of building exteriors, contributed $25,000 to fund the Hoffmann Diversity Advancement Scholarship, administered through the Connecticut Architecture Foundation. The fund provides scholarships for students from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups who are seeking degrees in architecture or engineering.
Office Buildings | Feb 12, 2023
Smyrna Ready Mix’s new office HQ mimics the patterns in the company’s onsite stone quarry
Designed by EOA Architects to showcase various concrete processes and applications, Smyrna Ready Mix's new office headquarters features vertical layering that mimics the patterns in the company’s stone quarry, located on the opposite end of the campus site. The building’s glass and concrete bands are meant to mirror the quarry’s natural contours and striations.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 11, 2023
8 Gold and Platinum multifamily projects from the NAHB's BALA Awards
This year's top BALA multifamily winners showcase leading design trends, judged by eight industry professionals from across the country.