KOA Dedicates New HQ, Celebrates LEED Gold Certification – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
Kampgrounds of America Inc. held a ceremony on Monday (Aug. 19) to dedicate its new headquarters in Billings, Mont. Over 100 people attended the ceremony, including local officials, representatives of the various architectural and construction firms that had helped design and construct the new building, KOA employees and more.
The 35,000-square-foot building earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its design as a green and sustainable building. LEED buildings take into consideration water and energy consumption, utilize lest waste, emit less carbon, contribute to greater employee health and more.
It was designed by the Billings architectural firm A&E Design in partnership with multiple local engineers.
“I’ve been anxiously awaiting this day because I wanted to celebrate the team that made this possible and that’s what the day’s about, celebrating our partners who are here,” noted Toby O’Rourke, CEO and president of KOA. “We have waited a long time to have a rightful home.
“KOA was founded 62 years ago with a very modest campground on a plot of land next to the Yellowstone River and we’re now the world’s largest network of privately owned campgrounds and the definitive leader in outdoor hospitality,” she added. “We felt that a company of that magnitude deserved its own home, not only as a home base for our 1,500 employees across the country but for our 500 franchisees, this is a big deal.”
O’Rourke highlighted that achieving LEED certification was no small task and she thanked a variety of people who took part in making the vision come to life.
Peter Templeton, the CEO and president of the U.S. Green Building Council, also spoke during the event and highlighted the tremendous work that went into securing the certification.
“This building shows how we can create inspiring, energizing spaces that maximize the connection to benefit the health of humans and our environment,” he said. “USGBC has worked for more than 30 years in communities across the country and around the world to make projects like this a reality.
“The project minimized construction waste and impacts, reduced water consumption, optimizes interiors for occupants and their well-being,” Templeton added. “The project’s, mechanical systems have been built to maximize energy efficiency and KOA has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by using clean energy and conducting life assessments of the products to use in construction. KOA and the project team have prioritized strategies and innovations that ensure a high-performing building that also creates a safe and productive environment for all its staff and visitors.”
A variety of KOA employees noted to Woodall’s Campground Magazine that the new facility allows for better networking and collaboration, with a variety of common areas, meeting rooms and open-air format.
The building itself blends in well with the surrounding landscape.
“I’ve felt that this building transformed our culture from the day we moved in,” noted O’Rourke to WCM after the ceremony was finished. “I saw people introducing themselves to each other who never interacted in the old building because we were on separate floors and didn’t have a lot of shared space. I see people just working so much more collaboratively here.
“I travel quite a bit for work, and when I’m gone, I miss the building,” she added. “It’s a place where you come every day and you just smile and see something new. I see wildflowers blooming, we see a lot of wildlife here. Just to see the way it has changed our culture, it’s just been great to be part of.”
O’Rourke told WCM that it was important to be LEED certified because KOA’s business is about being good stewards of the outdoors.
“We want to have a commitment to doing the best we can to preserve the lands and waters,” she highlighted. ” KOA has had a longstanding Kamp Green program. We educate our franchisees and campers on how to camp more sustainably or how to run their campground businesses more sustainably. Not only do we think it’s important for the environment, but it makes good business sense.”
Oscar Tang, KOA’s owner, was also in attendance and spoke briefly about the company’s growth and its commitment to Montana.
“The founders were entrepreneurs from Billings. It has always been headquartered here and it has grown tremendously, especially in the last 15 years,” he explained. “So, this is a way of making it clear that we are a Montana company. This building, I think, will perhaps further anchor that fact. Long after I’m gone, this company that grew out of this location from you all, from the efforts that you all have put in, will prosper on and on.”
Tang’s wife, Agnes Hsu-Tang, a world-renowned archaeologist, art historian and activist, curated a wide variety of art from the western region of the U.S. to give the building life.
Jason McGimpsey designed the building’s chandelier which is made from repurposed trees taken from the site.
To learn more about Kampgrounds of America and the company’s sustainability practices, visit koa.com.
