Oklahoma City, OK – The facelift of Expanded Solutions L.L.C. is now up to date with the completion last month of the renovations of the Oklahoma City location. The interior changes increased production space, while not changing the footprint.
The building at 5000 NW 5th Street was built in the late 1950’s and has been enlarged twice. Due to the manner in which the additions were made, the structure needed a new roof before any renovations could be made. Standard Roofing, OKC, completed this last spring enabling other renovations to begin in November.
Jim Loftis Architects designed the new space to enhance the flow of work and dramatically improve the office environment. Clyde Riggs Construction, Oklahoma City was selected as the general contractor. One of the most challenging obstacles was that the work needed to be completed while the business was on-going and that meant working around people, computers, & phones. “Clyde Riggs’ subcontractors did a wonderful job of working around our people. They accomplished their work professionally and more importantly with a minimum of interference”, said Rick Bahner, Owner. “The contractors did a great job, but I’m sure glad they are finished”, remarked Becky Hale, Sales Manager. “Our people did absolutely marvelous overcoming the noise and dust and not letting business be interrupted”, she added.
Besides re-doing the offices and a complete updating of the colors, carpets and furnishings, the key need was updating the employee’s break room. There had been a very crude and tacky break room for the shop employees and none for the office personnel. The new break room is in a space that was demolished and completely rebuilt. It is furnished with all new appliances and is for both shop & office personnel.
The use of expanded metals as an architectural material has been growing with Expanded Solutions at the forefront. Expanded metal ceiling tiles have gained widespread use and were used in throughout. A cut-away showing how security mesh is installed was put up on one wall in the large conference room. When customers visit, we can show them exactly what security mesh for a pharmacy, bank, government building or other sensitive area looks like. Central to the lobby is a unique display of expanded metal consisting of three layers of expanded metals. What makes this unique is the cloud like shape, which was free-form cut on a circle shear that has recently been commissioned in OKC. “The ‘cloud’ represents the innovative spirit that Expanded Solutions people put to use every day”, says Bahner.