A Home for Adventure: Designing KOA’s Headquarters
The Kampgrounds of America (KOA) Corporate Headquarters represents an ambitious redefinition of workplace design, manifesting KOA’s mission of “Connecting people to the outdoors and each other” into an immersive workplace environment. Located in Billings, Montana—the birthplace of KOA in 1962 along the banks of the Yellowstone River—this 35,000-square-foot space presents an immersive environment where the natural world is not just a backdrop but integral to daily life.
Agency
A&E Design
Practice Area
Client
Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA)
Industry
Emerging during the global pandemic, as people increasingly sought refuge in nature amidst growing isolation, the project answers a cultural call for spaces that foster wellbeing and connection, not just efficiency and profitability.
An example of creating a dialogue between structure and setting, the headquarters seamlessly integrates natural and built environments. Locally sourced materials—including wood, stone, and aspen branches salvaged onsite during construction that form a striking chandelier—root both the building and experiential graphics in its regional setting. Nature-based imagery perfectly complements the curated art collection and further dissolves the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. Together, these elements enhance the building’s role as a physical manifestation of KOA’s mission.
Where Big Sky views inspire big ideas: KOA’s headquarters seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a sustainable space where community and nature thrive together.
Jessica Ross
This sculptural chandelier, crafted from salvaged aspen branches, bridges the lobby and second-story balconies, illuminating KOA’s dedication to natural beauty and environmentally conscious design.
Zachary Grosfield, Jessica Ross
Design + Execution
Brand storytelling is central to the design, with subtle yet expansive experiential graphic design (EGD) that runs throughout the project. A two-story rope wall made from climbing ropes knotted into KOA’s logo acts as a tactile, visual centerpiece, embodying the brand’s ethos of exploration and resilience. The egress stairwell features 360° illustrations of Montana’s iconic rivers, trails, and mountains, while physical trail markers offer moments of reflection and interaction. The art collection features works by regional and Indigenous artists and grounds the space in its cultural context. Conference rooms are energized with distraction graphics that highlight KOA’s camping experiences, and even functional details, such as code signage, are designed with subtle nods to the brand’s playful identity. In the main corridor, a tactile steel map wall showcases KOA’s national reach, emphasizing the values of connection, community, and exploration that define the organization.
KOA’s seating spaces integrate organic materials, graphic storytelling, and branded details to create inviting, dynamic areas for teamwork and inspiration – where ideas flow as easily as conversations.
Lara Swimmer, Jessica Ross
Adventure mapped out. This bold design highlights KOA’s national network, integrating brand colors and textured design elements to celebrate their values of exploration and community across the country.
Lara Swimmer, Jessica Ross
Rising from river valleys to rugged alpine peaks, the immersive stairwell mural depicts Montana’s landscapes. Trail markers, featuring KOA’s organizational values, guide and inspire along the climb.
Jessica Ross
Each conference room celebrates one of KOA’s iconic camping offerings, with names and graphics that inspire a sense of adventure and create vibrant spaces for teamwork and exploration.
Lara Swimmer, Jessica Ross
Even code signage becomes a storytelling moment, with playful, branded details that enhance the user experience by elevating functional wayfinding into expressions of KOA’s adventurous ethos.
Jessica Ross
Project Details
Design Team
Brian Sullivan (creative director)
Abby Knab (design director)
Bret Sander (designer)
Zach Norman (designer)
Photo Credits
Lara Swimmer, Zachary Grosfield, A&E Design
Open Date
August 2024