Landscape Enhancement: Employee Patio at Sioux Falls Costco
Enhancement by
Allie Rea
Everyone loves a trip to Costco.
But what about the employees? In Sioux Falls, the Costco management team wanted to ensure their employees could find a moment of reprieve amid the hustle and bustle that happens inside the warehouse.
That’s where we came in!
“When we had the idea of giving their employees a peaceful space outside to take their breaks, eat their lunches, or just enjoy the outdoors, we knew Weller Brothers was the obvious choice,” says local Costco management.
Before
The existing outdoor employee break area was a simple lawn space alongside the warehouse. While on break, employees had no appropriate outdoor areas dedicated to enjoying fresh air, eating lunch, or taking a smoke break.
Weller Brothers account manager Allie Rea was the mastermind behind this landscape enhancement. She says that she approached this project with the mindset of a Costco employee while considering the larger impact on the property.
“I tried to think like one of the employees going to use the patio space, but also kept in mind that this is a commercial space rather than residential,” Allie explains. “I wanted the shape and layout to be organic and symmetrical. We had to be flexible with the bed lines and patio footprint as we addressed unforeseen utilities, a hidden manhole, and many mature tree roots.”
Our Approach
Allie worked with the Costco team to select cost-effective pavers that are more elevated than a concrete slab. She notes that using pavers allows the space to change with the environment, while concrete cracks and breaks with the change of the seasons and the growth of tree roots.
In selecting plant material, Allie considered both beauty and safety.
“I opted to install a row of Birchleaf Spirea to create an attractive barrier and feeling of security from the parking lot without creating blindspots for traffic,” she says.
Allie and the Weller Brothers team made it a priority to design and install the new landscaping around existing trees on the property. Throughout the updated space, she included additional simple and hardy Midwest perennials that complement other plant material on the property.
The Costco team adds their appreciation for the “hushed accents of colorful shrubs and summery mulch give off dreamy vibes that make you forget you’re in the parking lot of a wholesale retailer.”
How About Your Employees' Space?
Next time you head to Sioux Falls Costco, you may see employees enjoying their new patio space!
“The employees have a variety of smooth, shapely concrete seating to choose from, and at any given time several employees can be found outside enjoying the employee patio,” says the Costco team. “They use the space to relax, decompress from the hustle and bustle of the fast-paced environment inside, and just enjoy the fabulous summer weather in an area created just for them.”
Allie adds that she is happy to see Costco employees using the space each time she drives by and hopes to inspire other commercial and corporate locations to soften their parking lots and create something beautiful for their employees to enjoy.
If you’re considering a landscape enhancement for your commercial property, Weller Brothers is your go-to partner. Take it from the Costco team:
“Costco is incredibly pleased with the way Weller Brothers took a vision we had and brought it to life for our employees. We have been in partnership with them for over two years and have always been able to count on Allie and her team to provide landscaping enhancements, lawn care amenities, and all-around quality care for any and all of our business needs.”
