March 12, 2025
This paid piece is sponsored by Interstate Office Products.
Like a lot of businesses, RAS shifted to work from home as the pandemic took hold.
Now, five years later, the team is back together in its office at Cherapa Place – which looks nothing like the place it left in 2020.
“RAS wanted to have a really fresh, clean space as they brought employees back to the office, and they definitely achieved that,” said Marcia Young, interior designer at Interstate Office Products, who worked on the RAS renovation with colleague Abby Tufvesson.
“They’ve come back to the space they had for so many years, but it feels like a completely different place.”
Sioux Falls-based RAS, which stands for Risk Administration Services Inc., is a risk management adviser and workers’ compensation insurance writer. It is an original tenant-owner from when Cherapa Place opened in the mid-2000s.
While it shifted to remote work in 2020, a year later the firm leased and remodeled a different, smaller space at Cherapa Place to accommodate about 10 team members and serve as more of a “hoteling,” or drop-in, space to work as needed.
IOP helped with that office layout and furnishing, too, building on a decades-long relationship.
“They left their office on the fourth floor in 2021 and moved up to a much smaller space on fifth that also was a complete revamp and very open floor plan,” Young said.
“They were really thoughtful in how they designed the space, but now they’re bringing employees back, and they wanted to create a wow factor for them.”
The decision to bring people back to the office at least three days a week was driven by a desire for increased collaboration, said Sheila Anderson, RAS brand manager.
“We knew this would be a transition, so we wanted it to be comfortable but modern and sophisticated,” she said.
“We wanted an open feel because communication and collaboration are top of mind. This is meant to be a place to interact with your colleagues versus a lot of time sitting at a desk working, so we wanted the space to gear toward that.”
Workstations and private offices were scaled down a bit, utilizing height-adjustable desks for everyone and reducing the amount of storage that was needed.
“It’s a really beautiful space. You can see from side to side across the office with clear glass on the workstations, so you have great sight lines,” Young said.
“There are wonderful workstation spots by the windows, and they opened up a main area in the front that overlooks the river and will become a great collaboration space. I think it’ll be a focal point of the office.”
Almost 100 employees will work in the office, plus about 70 others who could come in occasionally from remote locations.
“We want it to be a welcoming environment that has a modern edge while bringing in some organic influences and staying true to the LEED certification of the building,” Anderson said.
“I’ve worked with Marcia and her team a long, long time. They understand the brand, and I think having that long-term relationship added a lot of value and efficiency.”
The collaboration areas are inviting and incorporate the use of texture versus a lot of patterns for an understated sophistication.
“IOP took our vision and elevated it, guiding us through selection while incorporating thoughtful touches we hadn’t considered — like lighting fixtures in collaborative areas and an area rug to create a more welcoming environment,” Anderson said.
“They were responsive, creative and collaborative, allowing us to have a hands-on role while ensuring a cohesive and refined outcome.”
The redesigned space also allowed for the firm’s first dedicated break room, where IOP helped RAS select a variety of seating, including counter-height bar stools and booth seating.
“When we first had an open house to bring our team in to see the space, they were a little unsure about the whole return-to-work plan, which I understand,” Anderson said.
“But when they saw it, there were so many positive comments. They loved the big, open break room and said the whole space looked so different and nice.”
Opening up a wall connected the RAS office with the new Cherapa Place fourth-floor roof deck, creating a destination outdoor space.
“The team is super-excited about that,” Anderson said.
“We want it to be a fun place, so even though you have to be here three days, you might choose to be here four because you like it so much.”
The overall office aesthetic “is simple but elevated,” Tufvesson said. “It’s very timeless, with some fun movement. We did an accent carpet for the corridors to help with the flow of traffic, and it’s a very cohesive space.”
The redesign incorporates the RAS brand colors of grey, orange and blue, but more subtly. What used to be an orange accent wall has evolved into more refined greys with hints of burnt orange strategically placed via accessories, for instance.
“It’s more subdued, and overall, the space just feels neutral and timeless,” Tufvesson said. “It will age really well with the building.”
While much of the office space at the expanded Cherapa Place is brand-new, the RAS renovation shows that offices in the original building can be just as impressive.
“It’s amazing what even paint and carpet will do to a space,” Young said. “That really changed the look here in addition to the furniture and orientation of the workstations. It made a big difference to make the space feel so fresh and more alive.”
As Anderson and her team begin working out of the new space, that has become clear.
“It doesn’t even feel like we’re in Sioux Falls sometimes when we’re down here,” she said. “This whole area has developed such a great feel and vibe, and our office reflects it. IOP did a brilliant job helping us make it happen.”
For IOP, “we’re really proud of the space, and grateful for the chance to work with RAS on another fun project,” Young added.
“It’s a fun story to see how they’ve evolved and adapted and now come back to a space that feels new again.”
To learn more about how IOP can support your workplace vision, visit i-o-p.com, or call 605-339-0300.
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