For more than four decades, the building at 405 1st Avenue NE in Watertown served as more than BPI’s corporate headquarters. It was a place where relationships were built, careers were launched, and a family-owned company grew alongside the community it proudly called home. Today, that building begins a new chapter.
Building Products Inc. (BPI) has donated its former headquarters to Codington Connects, providing the nonprofit organization with a permanent home for its new Community Resource Center. The donation ensures that a building with deep roots in Watertown will continue serving the people of the community for generations to come.
The decision reflects a legacy of service that has long defined the Schull family. After becoming president of the company in 1983, Lee Schull helped guide BPI through decades of growth while remaining committed to giving back to the communities that helped shape the company. Alongside his late wife, Jan, community involvement was never viewed as an obligation, but as an opportunity to make a lasting difference. Throughout her life, Jan dedicated countless hours to serving Watertown through local schools, nonprofit organizations, mentoring programs, church ministries, and countless acts of generosity that touched families across the region.
As BPI’s corporate headquarters recently relocated to Sioux Falls, Lee saw an opportunity to ensure the former office would continue fulfilling a meaningful purpose. Rather than simply changing ownership, the building will now become a place where organizations can work together to connect individuals and families with essential resources and support.
“This donation reflects the values that have guided BPI for generations,” Schull added. “Strong communities are built through partnerships, and we are honored to play a small part in helping create opportunities that will benefit families throughout Codington County for years to come.”
Codington Connects plans to transform the facility into a centralized Community Resource Center that will bring together several community organizations under one roof, including the South Dakota Department of Health, the WIC Program, Codington County Community Services, and Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars. By creating a single location for these services, the center will improve accessibility while strengthening collaboration among organizations serving Codington County.
Since its founding in 1957, BPI has believed that success is measured not only by the products delivered or the buildings supplied, but by the communities strengthened along the way. While the company’s headquarters has moved, its connection to Watertown remains as strong as ever.
For the Schull family, this donation represents more than the next chapter of a building. It reflects decades of commitment to a community that has been instrumental in BPI’s story and helps ensure that a place filled with history will continue creating opportunities for others for years to come.
