1930s-era Spring Lake hardware building reinvented as creative workspaces, residential condo

The abandoned 1930s-era building in the heart of the Spring Lake business district had seen better days -- until last year when Andrew Dull and Jason Wenk bought it.

Dull, owner of Concept A Creative Studio, and Wenk, owner of Retirement Wealth Advisors, joined forces to create inviting new spaces at 114 W. Savidge St. for their businesses, along with a residential condo upstairs and a rooftop deck that all the building's occupants could share.

The duo worked with interior designer Rick Edwards to marry today's work needs and modern Herman Miller furniture with the brick walls and wood floors of yesterday. The result is custom work places for both businesses and a contemporary dwelling in the second-level condo.

"The purpose of our space is to inspire our employees to do their best work, and I don't feel people are inspired just by sitting at their desk," Dull says. Concept A's five employees specialize in brand development, website strategy and design, and more. "Now they can move to a stand-up desk island, they have the capability to collaborate in a collaboration zone where they can pin up their ideas and review them. We built a rooftop deck where they can come out and work in the fresh air."

Renovation efforts include a green roof from LiveRoof, soda blasting the interior brick walls, repurposing the main level's wood floors as flooring for the condo, and putting a garage inside the building for the condo tenant's use.

The renovation landed a $70,535 Michigan Community Revitalization Program grant, plus Spring Lake Village grants for façade work and fire suppression.

Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
Enjoy this story? Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.