EMC Insurance Cos. announced that a new coffee shop, Common Ground, will open on Jan. 3 as part of its skywalk reconstruction project underway near its Des Moines headquarters at 700 Walnut St. The new space, which will feature sofas and booths as well as regular and high-top tables, will be open to the public. There will also be a special lounge area just for EMC team members with badge access that the company will use for informal team meetings. The space will be operated by Company Kitchen, EMC’s food and catering partner. The shop will feature coffee from BLK and Bold, a Des Moines-based coffee roaster that is Black-owned and distributed nationally. Pastries and baked goods will be sourced from a local bakery that is still being determined. The menu will also offer tea, smoothies, wraps, sandwiches and snacks.  Common Ground will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with possible expansion in the future. “Common Ground will be a nice addition to the skywalk and provides downtown workers with options for excellent coffee, great grab-and-go style food, and a fun, stylish space to relax, visit and collaborate,” said Cindy McCauley, EMC’s vice president of administrative services.