Professional staffing company returns to downtown offices

Axios Inc., a professional staffing and business streamlining company, moved into new downtown offices last weekend, ending its short stay in the suburbs.

The company left its offices near the Van Andel arena about four years ago for a location in Grand Rapids Township (4234 Cascade Rd.). But renaissance zone tax credits, an attractive building and downtown amenities lured Axios back – this time to Clark Place, a commercial and residential complex at 801 Broadway Ave.

The 100-year-old, 4-story building was completely renovated by Pioneer Construction in 2002 to serve as corporate offices for American Seating Company. ASC inhabits the first floor where its products were once manufactured. The top floor houses 22 apartments, the third floor is vacant and the second floor contains offices for ConAgra Foods, PPOM, Mills Benefit Group, Michigan Design Resources, Story-Telling Pictures and now Axios. Each floor has about 45,000 square feet of space, not counting an additional wing along Seward that contains 67 student apartments.

Axios, which staffs nearly 6,000 professionals through its business, employs nearly 60 workers itself, having added about eight more workers in the last year alone. Such growth forced the company – which expects to add nearly 20 more workers in the next five years – to relocate.

The company’s new offices provide roughly 6,500 square feet of space, enough to accommodate future growth. The building’s manufacturing history reveals itself through exposed ceilings and original brick walls. Pioneer built-out the space to suit Axios, about a $275,000 investment.

Sources: Randy Zandbergen, Pioneer Construction; Kellie Haines, Axios Inc.