(Winter 2023) Rite-Hite, a world leader in manufacturing, sales and service of loading dock equipment, industrial doors, safety barriers and many more products, opened their global headquarters in 2023. The campus serves as the corporate office and features a robust customer experience center and industrial demonstration space, state-of-the-art training facilities for sales and technicians, and many employee amenities, designed to enhance the office experience.
Industrial Demonstration Spaces: A unique, close-to-real-life warehouse, with eight different styles of loading docks and a wide variety of Rite-Hite products for customers to see in action.
Modern Office Environment: “Our goal for the new campus is to provide a great work environment and a state-of-the-art customer experience to tell the Rite-Hite story. With C.D. Smith Construction, we have met and exceeded that goal and we look forward to a long and prosperous future as we grow and expand,” said Sara Everts, Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications, Rite-Hite.
Training Space: A specially designed space for Rite-Hite to facilitate training (in person and virtual) for new sales staff and employees with a vision for more educational offerings in the future.
Facility Features:
Sara Everts summed up the once-in-a-lifetime experience of building their vision into reality, saying, "Building the Rite-Hite Global Headquarters was years in the making and a momentous undertaking for the organization and owners. Partnering with C.D. Smith, we knew we were in capable hands, and we are eager to share the fruits of our labor with our entire Rite-Hite family, our customers and in the process, show off the fine construction work of our general contractor, C.D. Smith."
(March 2023) Rite-Hite, a manufacturer of loading dock safety, security and productivity solutions, celebrated the grand opening of its new global headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Employees moved into the south building last June and the north building in March of 2023.
THE BIG PICTURE: The 9.5-acre campus accommodates 300+ employees, with room for future growth. A sky bridge connects the four-story north building to the two-story south building and a 450-stall, four-level parking structure.
SOUTH BUILDING: The south building is home to Rite-Hite's technical training center, engineering and light industrial operations for one of their divisions and the local branch of Arbon Equipment, a Rite-Hite Company.
The 119,000-square-foot south building has 900 solar panels on its roof and houses:
NORTH BUILDING: The north building includes:
Additional features of the state-of-the-art headquarters include open office space, private offices, collaboration areas, research + development, a two-story fireplace and an array of various employee amenities.
Rite-Hite expects to bring hundreds of customer groups to the new campus.
“It has been an intense but fulfilling undertaking for all of us and we are so grateful for the expertise and strong partnership we have with our architect and general contractor,” said Sara Everts, Rite-Hite’s Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications. “The entire Rite-Hite organization has followed the project’s progression and we are thrilled to be working at this beautiful campus and to be part of the vibrant neighborhood and city.”
The Walker's Point neighborhood in Milwaukee will soon be home to the new Rite-Hite global headquarters. As a world leader in manufacturing and selling loading dock equipment, industrial doors, safety barriers, HVLS fans and more, Rite-Hite has been in business for over 57 years. With 2,300 employees worldwide, the Milwaukee location will be home to corporate administration, sales training, research and development and the local branch of Arbon Equipment, a Rite-Hite company. The campus will have immediate room for more than 300 employees, with room for future growth.
“Our goal for the new campus is to provide a great work environment as well as a state-of-the-art customer experience where we can tell the Rite-Hite story,” says Sara Everts, Director of Corporate Marketing. Sara’s colleague, Ward Wojciehowski visits the jobsite frequently and says, “It’s really fulfilling and exciting to see the progress toward this goal as the C.D. Smith team leads the construction efforts.”
The state-of-the-art headquarters will feature two buildings connected by a skybridge. Nearly 270,000 square feet of space will include a "live" loading dock demonstration area, four stories of office space, a 450-stall parking structure, customer experience center, training facility, research and development, and employee amenities including a work café, outdoor patio and two-story fireplace.
“We recently completed the installation of solar panels as part of Rite-Hite’s green initiatives.”
Nate Petersen, Superintendent for C.D. Smith
The 900 solar panels being installed are rated at 430 watts each. The 387KW system is expected to generate about 500,000 annual kWh. This prevents 391 tons of CO2 emissions annually, which is the equivalent of:
» 820 barrels of oil consumed; or
» 65 homes electricity usage for one year; or
» 391,000 pounds of coal burned.
“More and more clients are looking to incorporate sustainable construction practices and reduce their carbon footprint, and our management team and skilled tradespeople have the experience to deliver on these requests.”
Chad Kraus, Project Manager for C.D. Smith
Click on the below link to learn more about the power of effective collaboration from a CASE STUDY: Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) at Rite-Hite. It illustrates the power of effective collaboration by gaining alignment on the goals and expectations of Rite-Hite’s ownership with the teams carrying out the work.
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Rite-Hite, a global manufacturing leader, has been honored as one of The Daily Reporter's Top Projects of 2022. Led by C.D. Smith Construction, the completion of Rite-Hite's new corporate headquarters in Milwaukee is a testament to their commitment to innovation and growth.
The headquarters revitalized a once-abandoned site, boosting the local economy and improving the surrounding landscape. The facility offers cutting-edge amenities, including a secure parking garage, versatile training spaces, and scenic walking paths along the Menomonee River.
Sustainability took center stage, with 900 rooftop solar panels generating 500,000 kilowatt hours per year and offsetting over 391 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
With over 2,200 employees worldwide and 300 in the Milwaukee area, the headquarters serves as a talent development hub and world-class customer experience center.
Rite-Hite's headquarters project, spanning 270,000 square feet, exemplifies their dedication to sustainability, employee well-being, and community revitalization. This recognition affirms their position as an industry leader in Wisconsin's landscape.
By Ashley Smart - Mar 10,2023 11:42 am
Almost eight months after employees began moving into Rite-Hite’s new corporate headquarters in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood, the final portion of the campus — the north building — is...(link to the full BizTimes PRESS RELEASE).
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