Knife River Learning Center

Knife River Learning Center is a state-of-the-art training and office facility providing hands-on learning in practical environments for workers in construction, infrastructure, and related fields. The project notably includes an 80,000 square-foot heated dome with a dirt arena for equipment training - the largest such dome in the United States - with an observation room, deck, and audio-visual studios.

Also included is a 16,000 square-foot office building with four classrooms. Classrooms are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology and designed to complement collaborative active learning. The building houses staff offices, conferencing, and amenities, along with a 2,400 square-foot enclosed patio and an on-site kitchen for catering.

Varitone worked with the client to imbue the space with a sense of identity, with a focus on creating a sense of warmth while embracing the concrete materials that are core to Knife River. Corporate and field offices from select areas throughout the United States are incorporated in the training room interiors via unique colorways and finishing, acknowledging that this is a facility serving the entire national team. Regional identity is directly acknowledged through the use of mountain and river motifs rendered in concrete, wood, and finish carpentry.