A SPACE BUILT FOR COLLABORATION: A CONVERSATION WITH CARLEE KREMER AND VICTORIA SHERROCK

Written by Amaya Schreiber

After years of growth and countless moments shared at our former home at 4401 Springfield Street, the MSD team has officially stepped into a new era—one that starts just across the street at 4406 Springfield Street. This space was more than a move. It was a vision. One rooted in collaboration, culture, and future-forward thinking.

I sat down with Carlee Kremer and Victoria Sherrock, who played a huge role in the design and layout of the new headquarters, to talk about how this building came to life—from mood boards to floor plans to final walkthroughs.


Q: What were some of your original goals when it came to designing the new space?

Carlee:
We had a couple of big goals when we started. We wanted to create a space that was rooted in collaboration but didn’t feel so open that it lacked privacy. That’s where the mix of open and closed seating came in. It needed to be somewhere our team could truly get work done—but also have fun doing it. The layout, design and furniture plan really reflect that intention.

Victoria:
Our old headquarters at 4401 did the job for a long time, but the layout was choppy. We’ve come a long way in how we work together, and this new space had to support that. We wanted more open seating, more opportunities for teamwork, and to physically bring the right departments closer together. Marketing moved closer to sales and the front of the building, which has made a huge difference. It’s all purposeful.


Q: Let’s talk about conference rooms—you went from just two to now nine. What prompted that shift?

Tori:
There was constantly a hassle trying to find a room for a private chat or a quick meeting. It felt like we were always saying, “Can you move your meeting?” or “I need that room for a client.” Plus, we were out of desk space for people who weren’t in the office every day. It became clear we needed more options, so we built out nine meeting spaces—plus a few flex spots. We shouldn’t have this problem again for a very long time.


Q: What was the process like for selecting furniture?

Tori:
Simple, but complex! We had a lot of opinions and a lot of deadlines. Comfort was a top priority, especially with the change. We needed to make sure cubicles were large enough for personal and work belongings without feeling boxed in. At the same time, we were working with a budget. It was definitely a balance of form and function. We knew clients and partners would be coming through, so it had to look good, too.

Carlee:
Tori and I were makeshift interior designers for a good chunk of this project. There were so many little details that went into making the space both beautiful and functional. We knew it mattered.


Q: Did you plan for each space to have its own identity?

Carlee:
Definitely. Every space was thought out down to a T—even the names are based on our company values and culture. Some ideas got cut, some had to be reworked, but we were always intentional. I think the rooms will keep evolving as different people use them. They’ll grow into their own personalities.


Q: Tell me more about the color palette—how did you land on the final look?

Carlee:
Oh gosh, we went back and forth for a while. Pinterest, Google, mood board after mood board. We spent hours at Sherwin-Williams! We wanted something warm, industrial, and still modern. We even considered little things like “Betty the Bear” (who’s on her way from Johnny Stewart’s house!) to make sure it all felt cohesive.

We didn’t want anything to feel sterile, so we focused on textures, wood tones, and wall colors. There were a lot of elements to factor in—like the existing furniture color, floor stain, rugs. It was a lot, but it came together.


Q: Were there any must-haves you refused to compromise on?

Tori:
The Progress Room by the kitchen was one. That room was designed as a community space—a place for lunch and learns and our Give to Grow initiatives. It’s still coming together, but we knew that was a non-negotiable flex space that had to serve a big purpose.

Carlee:
And our Vision Room table! We had to cut down a beautiful tree and knew we wanted to honor it. That wood became an 18-foot custom table visible through a full glass wall—it’s one of the most impressive pieces in the building. That was a hard no on cutting. It leaves a mark, literally and figuratively.


Q: What are you most proud of when you walk through the space now?

Carlee:
It was exhausting, long, and honestly fun. I think I’m most proud of how the furniture and design brought it all together. When you spend 40+ hours a week in a space, you want it to feel good. It feels like home now. The teamwork and love for MSD were clear throughout the process—and that’s what really makes this space special.

Tori:
Same here. The family feel, the people, the problem-solving—watching it all come together was amazing. From storage solutions to final walkthroughs, it made me proud to be part of something this big.


Stay tuned for Part Two, where we’ll dive into some of the final touches, unexpected challenges, and what’s still ahead for the team at 4406.

WPAFB Sensors Lab

Wright-Patt Air Force Base sought contractors to renovate and add onto the Sensors Lab. The HVAC portion of the project was over $13 million.

  • MSD served as the Design Assist Contractor in conjunction with Heapy Engineering for this project. In collaborating with General Contractor, Butt Construction, MSD provided Design Assist solutions for the following:
    • A large, anechoic chamber
    • An outdoor range
    • Multiple, Class-100 clean rooms
    • A three-story office building addition with DCID 6-9 requirements on many of the rooms

WPAFB Chilled Water System

The chilled water system at a high-security building on the Air Force Base was undersized and unable to keep up with demand. The facility could not operate without chilled water due to the amount of information servers in the building, and the general nature of the building itself. The entire upgrade project would need to be completed with minimal shut down time at the building. HVAC portion of this project was over $3 million.

  • MSD worked in collaboration with Diaz Construction to complete the system upgrades on time and on budget with minimal shutdowns or disruption to the facility operations.

LJB, Inc.

LJB, Inc. was renovating their Miamisburg, OH office and wanted to incorporate energy-saving upgrades.

  • MSD provided Design Build services in tandem with Greensleeves Energy Solutions, a specialist in geothermal systems.
  • MSD and Greensleeves installed a new geothermal HVAC system with open and closed loops. In addition, MSD design and installed the plumbing portion of the renovation.

Exciting Career Opportunities Await! Be Part of Our Growing Team!