CATHERINE DEKKENGA

Bio:

Catherine Dekkenga is a Principal Architect and the Sioux Falls Market Leader at JLG Architects, an employee-owned, woman-led firm with nine Midwest offices. Catherine is an industry trailblazer with a diverse portfolio of education, healthcare, industrial, athletics, and community-driven projects. She is originally from Sioux Falls and has been an Architect since 2015, earning her Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Philosophy from Iowa State University.

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

My dad is an Architect, and my parents continually demonstrated the importance of community involvement. I studied biology, math, and art before earning a BA in Philosophy and Masters in architecture; a field that brought together all my interests.

What do you do?

As an Architect, I decipher vision and goals, then work with Owners, stakeholders, and engineers to guide the design and construction process. As the Market Leader, I advise a great team through business development and community involvement.

What excites you in the work you do?

People! I love the relationships that are built and the people I work with. Our profession allows us to be very involved in our community, from advocating for education to serving on the City’s Sustainability Master Plan Steering Committee.

Who or what inspires you professionally?

It’s inspiring to see the emotion of the Owners we work with and the powerful impact of their projects. It’s amazing to be part of transformation in organizations and communities, going beyond the few people we meet at the beginning of projects.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

I’m proud of the impact I’ve made on the Sioux Falls community. Understanding the built environment allows me to contribute, from leading building committees to serving on boards such as Levitt at the Falls.

Featured Project Name:

Blue Rock Bar & Grill

Featured Project Location:

Sioux Falls, SD

Featured Project Completion Date:

July 2019

Role in Featured Project:

Architect

Featured Project Description:

The Blue Rock Bar & Grill at the Sanford Sports Complex offers a fusion of four unique spaces that accommodate 450 among tiered dining experiences, from teams and groups to casual and fine dining. Embedded in the landscape is a 15-ton, seven-foot rock that leads to the Sports Bar, the Upper Deck’s rooftop patio and garage doors, the Tailgate’s roll-up garage doors and patio courtyard, and the Lodge, a warm and inviting fine dining experience surrounded by rock walls and hardwood.

Photography Credit:

Lonnie Laffen

Featured Project Name:

Harrisburg Adventure Elementary

Featured Project Location:

Harrisburg, SD

Featured Project Completion Date:

2020

Role in Featured Project:

Architect

Featured Project Description:

The design of Harrisburg’s Adventure Elementary created a more collaborative, community-inspired building that accommodates growth and a future-driven floorplan of four self-contained communities, offering pathways to a larger, shared community of amenities. Each “community” is comprised of kindergarten through 5th grade classes — allowing students to comfortably intermingle with and learn from peers of all ages – promoting cross-age learning for the benefit of development and equality.

Photography Credit:

Chad Ziemendorf

Featured Project Name:

Pierre Water Treatment Plant

Featured Project Location:

Pierre, SD

Featured Project Completion Date:

May 2023

Role in Featured Project:

Architect

Featured Project Description:

Led by JLG Architects and AE2S, Pierre, SD’s Drinking Water Treatment Plant won the Central South Dakota Engineering Project of the Year. At $37.5 million, it was the City’s largest investment, aimed at improving drinking water and combatting high mineral content. Massing of the building was sunk into the parkland, and materials were chosen to communicate earthly qualities – precast with wood plank imprints, stone, and tones reflecting the South Dakota prairie and Missouri River landscape.