- Ring Power Corporation, the largest Caterpillar dealer in the southeastern US, hired Gresham, Smith and Partners to renovate their aging 32,000 square foot regional facility in Tampa. - The architects gutted the building down to the exterior walls and floors, and added windows, a new entrance canopy, and aluminum awnings. - The renovated space includes a modernized lobby, expanded training center, private meeting areas, and efficient workstations with natural light and views. - The project delivered an up-to-date and polished workplace that appeals to Ring Power's diverse customers and boosts employee morale.

1. A H E AV Y  D U T Y
MAKEOVER
24633.00
R I N G P O W E R C O R P O R AT I O N
Tampa, Florida
Architecture, Interior Design
Sustainable Practice

2. RING POWER CORPORATION is
the largest Caterpillar dealer in the
southeastern United States. Since its
founding in 1961, it has grown steadily to
become a multimillion dollar business.
But their large regional facility in the
Tampa area, housing administrative
offices, sales, support and service for
Caterpillar equipment, was showing its
age and needed a complete renovation.
THE CLIENT WANTED TO PRESENT an image
that was up-to-date and forward-looking, pol-
ished but somewhat industrial and a bit formal at
the same time. The company’s “Customer First”
reputation meant that the new space must appeal
to vastly different customer segments, ranging
from small, independent contractors needing to
rent equipment or find replacement parts to large
construction companies negotiating the purchase
of huge equipment costing hundreds of thousands
of dollars.
Before

3. The company also does a large international busi-
ness involving very sophisticated international
and high-volume clients. The space had to make
this diverse group of customers feel comfortable Before
and also needed to be environmentally sensitive,
highly functional and a terrific place to work.
After competing with a number of other archi-
tectural firms, GS&P was awarded the job. The
design team proceeded to gut the 32,000-square-
foot building, down to the bare tilt-up exterior
walls and concrete floors. Dry wall disappeared.
Electrical systems, fire protection and plumbing
were torn out. When the demolition was complete,
it was, according to principal-in-charge Jacqueline
Russo, IIDA, like starting over with a brand-new
building.
Beginning with the exterior, windows were
punched in the old walls to bring in natural light
and views. A new canopy was designed for the en-
trance and aluminum awnings were added to the
exterior to filter sunlight but remain unobtrusive.
The new lobby, the first thing customers at every
level see, presents a sophisticated, high-tech image

4. with quality finishes while not looking, in Russo’s
words, “like a bank.” Exposed ceiling girders lend
an industrial quality to the lobby. Retail space oc-
cupies part of this area as well, selling hats, shirts
and other logo items that have a down-to-earth
appeal.
A training center in the old building was anti-
quated and small, holding only about 20 people.
Now it is more like a theater, more functional and
equipped with the latest in audio/visual technol-
ogy. The space can hold several dozen people
assembled for employee training, equipment dem-
onstrations or company conferences.
Nearby, there is a more private waiting area for
customers who will meet with sales representa-
tives and executives. In an adjacent corridor, the
design team created a history wall that follows
the timeline of the company and its founders, the
Ringhaver family. Small meeting rooms and a
large conference room are in this area as well.
Before

5. Finishes in the facility are of high quality materi-
als, rich and sophisticated to the eye, but easy to
maintain and inexpensive. Workstations were
Before
designed with efficiency and future flexibility in
mind. Organized around central supply areas,
the stations don’t need to hold large quantities of
supplies or printers and fax machines and thus
are slightly smaller than traditional workstations.
Through an indirect lighting system, employees
can choose the level of light they want. The ad-
dition of natural light and pleasant views from
the new windows provides various lighting levels,
reduces the need for intense lighting and helps
save energy.
It was a complex job, according to Russo, in-
volving very detailed programming and design
development. In the end, she is proud to have de-
livered exactly what the client requested: a highly
designed, highly functional new facility that has
boosted employee confidence in Ring Power and,
in turn, the confidence of all their customers. ■

6. “…a very positive workplace that
everyone enjoys. Our clients and
vendors have all…made positive
comments regarding our changes.”
— TOMMY BALL
Vice President and Regional Sales Manager
Gresham, Smith and Partners provides architecture, engineering, interior design and planning services to national and international clients from  offices
across the United States and one in China. GS&P provides services in multiple markets including aviation, corporate and urban design, environmental
compliance, healthcare, industrial, land planning, transportation and water services. GS&P consistently ranks among the top architectural and
engineering firms in the United States. For more information regarding GS&P, visit www.gspnet.com.
Aviation Corporate + Urban Design Environmental Compliance Healthcare Industrial Land Planning Transportation Water Services
Atlanta Birmingham Charlotte Chipley Cincinnati Columbus Dallas Ft. Lauderdale Jackson Jacksonville
Knoxville Louisville Memphis Mobile Nashville Richmond Shanghai Tampa
gspnet.com ARCHITEC TURE ENGINEERING INTERIORS PLANNING