A Headquarters in Wyoming Unites Workplace and Community

With an abandoned concrete block Kmart building in EMIT Technologies’ real estate portfolio, CEO Casey Osborn envisioned a modern headquarters for the metal fabrication company in Sheridan, Wyoming. CLB Architects was tapped to transform the former big-box structure into a nearly 120,000-square-foot campus.

The new headquarters consolidates the operations of four existing fabrication facilities and adds office space plus a host of amenities accessible to staff and the general public. “Rather than designing disparate spaces to support an office community, we integrated all of the sectors of business into one structure,” says Eric Logan, partner at CLB Architects.

A laser-perforated scrim, custom-made by the EMIT group, envelops the old and new architecture, a nod to the the materials and methods found within. Courtyards are places of respite that allow users to easily connect with nature.

On the front of the edifice, the suspended facade lifts upward to welcome employees and visitors into an expansive lobby. This entrance not only sets the tone for the entire experience, it is also emblematic of EMIT’s “no collar” workforce where all are equal. Staff members enter and exit through one door, and a range of areas, from flex spaces to the library, encourage collaboration and the exchange of ideas among individuals at every level.

The hub also includes sections where industrial and administrative staff can connect during the workday. A basketball court, coffee station, auditorium, and even a barbershop are some of the available amenities. Many of these offerings are also utilized by locals and employees’ families. It is a year-round center for both work and recreation, ideal when temperatures drop during the winter months.

The machine floor is accessible from the office headquarters through a shared lobby, where there is an interplay between the interior finishes. Raw, industrial materials are paired with a blend of matte and textured surfaces for contrast that echoes the landscape of the Rocky Mountain West. Several of the furnishings and details were specially produced in-house, including workstations, chairs, ceiling panels, and screens made from birch plywood and powder-coated black steel.

A standout piece, FILTER (seen below on the left), is located at a city park adjacent to the headquarters. This sculpture was created by the CLB and EMIT teams for the NYCxDESIGN Festival in 2022. Displayed in Times Square during the yearly event in Manhattan, the artwork highlights craftsmanship and invites viewers to appreciate it in a new way, just like the headquarters does. “It’s gratifying to see the community come together and engage here, and to celebrate the process of making,” Logan adds.

For more information on CLB Architects, visit clbarchitects.com.

Photography by Nic Lehoux.