A massive nearly 300,000-square-foot government office building in east Sioux Falls has been transformed from a clinical workspace into a welcoming environment through an innovative art consulting partnership. The South Dakota One Stop building, where hundreds of state employees work daily, received a major artistic makeover thanks to a collaboration between state officials and the Washington Pavilion Management Inc.
Tom Albrecht, the state's facilities acquisition and services director, faced a significant challenge when the new building was completed with bare walls throughout. State government budget limitations severely restricted spending on decorative items like artwork, leaving officials searching for creative solutions. "We were trying to figure out a way to brighten up the building, especially in the children's areas," Albrecht explained. The breakthrough came when he was introduced to Darrin Smith, CEO of the Washington Pavilion.
The Washington Pavilion's art consulting program, which utilizes the expertise of skilled curators from the Visual Arts Center, proved to be the perfect solution. "We had a very good meeting. I explained what our limitations were and what we were looking for, and they had done things like this before and jumped in with both feet," Albrecht recalled. "I left the meeting thinking, 'Did this just happen?'"
To support the ambitious project, the Washington Pavilion initially loaned artwork from its education collection to the state. However, Smith recognized that creating a truly fitting collection for the One Stop building required expanding beyond existing resources. "To curate artwork that truly fit the One Stop story at this scale, we needed to expand that collection. We reached out to key supporters of the arts, our community and the state of South Dakota – and they loved the idea," Smith said.
A diverse group of businesses and industries stepped forward to support the initiative financially. Major contributors included First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, Dream Design International, Interstate Office Products, CO-OP Architecture, and several other organizations. "We, along with our partners at the state, are deeply grateful for their generosity and proud to be part of this meaningful project," Smith noted.
The curation process began with comprehensive site visits during the building's construction phase. State officials walked through the facility with the Washington Pavilion team to assess the space and understand the scope of the project. Jana Anderson, the lead curator who worked alongside curator Erin Castle, described their initial observations: "We really began to understand how many blank walls there were going to be."
Once employees began working in the building and clients started visiting, the sterile atmosphere became even more apparent. "After walking through again once employees were working in the building and clients were coming through, the space felt very clinical," Anderson explained. "We understand that art can warm up a space and make it feel more welcoming. That was our initial goal with the artwork."
The Washington Pavilion team prioritized community involvement and local representation in their artwork selection. They collaborated extensively with building employees to understand their preferences and daily experiences. "Like all of our art consulting projects, we started by really wanting to understand who works in this building, who is coming to this building and what really occurs here," Anderson said. The discussions revealed a desire for artwork that was "welcoming, joyful, peaceful and warm," while representing the entire state of South Dakota through its people and landscapes.
To source appropriate photography, the Washington Pavilion coordinated an extensive open call that attracted hundreds of submissions from local photographers across South Dakota. The selection process was notably democratic, involving building employees in the initial judging rounds. "From there, we included employees in jurying the first round of images. They voted on their favorite pieces, and we were able to incorporate most of the feedback in final decisions," Anderson detailed.
For original artwork, the curators took a more targeted approach, presenting carefully selected pieces to a smaller group of stakeholders for feedback. This collaborative method ensured that the final collection reflected both professional curatorial expertise and the preferences of those who would encounter the art daily.
The project initially focused on areas serving vulnerable populations, particularly spaces used by children in the Department of Social Services suite. "We wanted it to be a bright, happy, hopeful place for the kids in there, and the Pavilion's team showed a lot of empathy working in those areas and put a lot of thought into what they were doing," Albrecht explained. This thoughtful approach extended to other high-priority areas including the building's main corridor, two public first-floor conference rooms, and additional DSS office spaces.
The community response to the installed artwork has been overwhelmingly positive. "The artwork in the children's playroom on the first floor in the main corridor has gotten a lot of comments, and there are some really neat paintings in the main corridor," Albrecht observed. He specifically highlighted a photograph by Paul Schiller in one conference room, describing it as "a really neat look at the downtown area." The facilities director emphasized that "all of the art has been well received, and everything is just really cool."
Despite the success of the initial installation, the project represents only the beginning of a larger vision. Anderson revealed that "the first 100 pieces have been curated, but we are not done." She estimates that giving similar attention to each floor and department could result in a collection five times larger than the current installation. The team is currently prioritizing client-facing spaces and high-traffic employee areas for future phases.
The comprehensive nature of the Washington Pavilion's art consulting services includes professional installation, which Anderson and Castle handled personally. This hands-on approach provided immediate feedback opportunities from building occupants. "Employees were grateful to see color in their offices and the public spaces," Anderson noted. "We could see immediately how artwork can improve employee experience and how artwork elevates a space."
The transformation's impact extends beyond mere decoration to meaningful community representation. "Overall, this is a fantastic collection of artwork, and the whole space represents diverse styles and artists," Anderson explained. "I think there is something around every corner that may interest anyone that goes into the building. I have my favorites, but I think there is something for everyone, and everyone that encounters this collection of artwork will hopefully find their favorites."
Looking ahead, the Washington Pavilion team has ambitious plans for expanding the collection. "We have some great ideas about the next phase in 2026 and are excited to be adding to this collection," Anderson announced. The ongoing project demonstrates how creative partnerships can overcome budget constraints while celebrating local talent and creating more humanized work environments.
From the state's perspective, the collaboration exceeded all expectations. Albrecht praised the Washington Pavilion team's vision and commitment: "The Washington Pavilion's team saw the vision for how we wanted this to affect the community and staff, and they just linked arms with us and went. They were just fantastic. I'd work with them 100 times out of 100 and am just glad there are people in the world who have an eye for art and a heart like they do too."
