Renovation project brings it all together for Kohl’s

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As part of an effort to centralize a large number of staff members working in various offices, Menomonee Falls-based Kohl’s Corp. looked to an existing manufacturing building and began drafting plans to renovate it.

“As with most projects in existing buildings, taking into consideration the existing structure while maintaining Kohl’s brand identity presented some challenges,” said Mark Griepentrog, Kohl’s senior vice president for property development.

To deal with those difficulties, the design process included plan revisions to ensure construction — overseen by Mortenson Construction’s Brookfield office and involving dozens of subcontractors — would proceed smoothly and deliver a product that matched the company’s goals.

The result is a 300,000-square-foot, open-layout corporate office, which includes a full-service kitchen and eating area, five mezzanines, more than 100 conference rooms and a 1,500-seat auditorium.

“The auditorium has been a great addition to our campus, and we’ve held some incredible associate events in the space,” he said, adding that staff members have also played host to volunteer there.

Among other design elements incorporated in the renovation, the Innovation Center includes a heating-and-cooling system that runs beneath the floors. The system allows staff to adjust the temperature of individual workstations.

“This is a more energy-efficient way to deliver heating and air conditioning,” Griepentrog said.

The building’s energy efficiency is improved by an on-site solar-power system, which is capable of generating more than 67,000 kilowatts of energy each year to help meet the Innovation Center’s needs. Other green features of the renovation include four electric vehicle-charging stations, increased natural daylight coming in from 34 floor-to-ceiling windows, and a plumbing system designed to use 35 percent less water.

“We are proud of the many green features incorporated into the facility,” Griepentrog said.

Additionally, the renovation of the existing manufacturing building prompted the inclusion of landscaping to incorporate a network of plant species adept at trapping groundwater, which helped minimize the structure’s need for an irrigation system.

“We are proud to have created a best-in-class working environment for our associates that not only encourages collaboration, but also offers them an updated environment,” Griepentrog said.

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