Bentonville Building Wins Design Award

Robert Loza of Kirby Buildings Systems visited the Jarden Corp. building in Bentonville on May 21 to present a design award on behalf of the metal building manufacturer.

 Among those in attendance were Josh Kyles, who owns the 21,000-SF building, and representatives of general contractor AK Enterprise of Northwest Arkansas, Mangold Burris Architecture, and tenants The Coleman Co. and Pure Fishing Inc. Both Coleman and Pure Fishing are Jarden subsidiaries.

“More than anything, it means a lot to have an owner who let us step outside the box,” AK Enterprise vice president Kurt Blackaby said before accepting the award, which was based on aesthetics, functionality and practicality. “He allowed us to build a building that fits their needs, but also one that looks like what Coleman does.

“When you drive up, this building screams, ‘Coleman.'”

“I’ve been here 12 years and we’ve been in five buildings,” added Terri Brooks, senior vice president for Coleman’s Wal-Mart Stores team. “It’s the best building we’ve been in not just because it’s the most efficient and most gorgeous, but because the customer service we get from Kurt and Josh has been over-the-top.”

Blackaby said after KBS supplied what essentially is the “shell” of the building, AK Enterprise did the rest, from staining the floors to installing the roof. AK Enterprise also constructed the building’s brick façade, which along with other touches like textured columns, hand-built desks and conference tables, and a small patio, deliver a lodge-style feel.

In addition to about 40 offices, the building contains two conference rooms, two showrooms, bathroom and shower facilities and a small lounge. AK Enterprise’s building permit was valued at $2.9 million, and the project was completed in less than six months.

Brooks said Bentonville is home to the only off-site Coleman team in the United States, with the rest operating out of Wichita, Kan. The Bentonville team handles sales, logistics and financing for Wal-Mart.