Stories

Feature Story tommy-250

G-Sync – You Get What You Pay For

Everyone needs an advocate now and then, and G-Sync's Tommy Allen thinks now is the time to serve as an advocate for artists.

Feature Story triple-bottom

Triple Top Line Awards

For one week only, you can cast your vote for finalists vying for the Triple Top Line awards given out by the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. Here's your chance to support a business, organization or government that  promotes sustainability, all with the click of a button.

GR Public Schools lands $400,000 W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant to pilot "blended" instruction model

Sharon Hanks The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded the Grand Rapids Public Schools a one-year $400,000 planning grant to develop a "transformative" education strategy featuring a blend of online and in-classroom teaching method rather than the traditional sit-in-class approach.

Salvation Army's new Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center looks to fill 65 new jobs

The Salvation Army's new Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center is looking to fill about 65 new full and part-time positions before opening its new $26 million multi-use facility in late October.

Walmart Foundation awards $550,000 grant to West Michigan Strategic Alliance to improve literacy

At a time when uneducated West Michigan adults are struggling with unemployment, the Walmart Foundation has come forward with a $550,000 private grant to help them improve their literacy and hopefully land jobs.

Blodgett Hospital's $98 million expansion includes rooms with a view

Deborah Johnson WoodThe $98 million expansion of Grand Rapids' Blodgett Hospital converts the entire facility to private rooms – many of which will have a lake view. "It's an enormous pleasure to look out the windows, because some of the rooms face Fisk Lake," says Derrick Brown, project manager for Spectrum Health Hospital Group. "It's just breathtaking to see the lake and the gorgeous homes. This is the only healthcare facility that I've ever worked on that's had a significant view like that." Brown says the 162,000-square-foot addition converts the entire hospital to private patient rooms and adds eight operating rooms, bringing the total operating rooms to 14 with space to add four more, if needed. The four-story LEED project is on budget and on schedule for public tours the week of September 20 and seeing patients the week of October 10, 2010.The drywall installation is complete on all floors, with final painting and wall coverings underway. The first floor construction is completed and awaiting the arrival of cabinets and nurses' stations, says Brown. The original plans did not include a basement, but Brown says that was added after construction began. But even though everything is on schedule, the project has presented its own set of challenges. "The site has very limited space and we haven't had "lay down" space for building materials," Brown says. "Some portions have been built offsite and brought over; other things, like the steel, came precut and prepped so we were able to move a lot faster."Throughout the length of the project Brown says Spectrum Health has kept neighbors apprised of what to expect. "The Blodgett campus is a community hospital, and any time the work will be noisy, create vibrations or we've had to shut down a street, we've communicated that by going door-to-door," Brown says. "I've done this type of work at other hospitals for a number of years and nowhere have we had the interaction with the community that we've had here."Source: Derrick Brown, Spectrum Health Hospital GroupRelated ArticlesBlodgett Hospital unveils $98M expansion plan $98M Blodgett Hospital overhaul proceeding on schedule in East Grand Rapids Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Grand Rapids' Aquinas College invests $7M in athletic facility renovation, shoots for big win

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids' Aquinas College has begun a massive overhaul of its outdated athletic facility that promises to transform the 1957 structure into a showplace for college sports and fitness training. The existing facility on the north side of the campus was mostly gymnasium. The basketball and volleyball courts ran north-south, but will be reoriented to east-west in the center of the main level. That makes room for the addition of interior second levels to the north and south, says Scott Vyn, design director for Integrated Architecture, the firm that designed the new structure.The $7 million renovation includes a new student fitness/workout room, new concessions, locker rooms, classrooms, coaches' offices and the Aquinas Hall of Fame. "We made this change for multiple reasons," says Greg Meyer, Aquinas' associate vice president for advancement. "The building was built 40 years ago when we had six sports and we now have 18. But the primary reason was admissions. At any college now, students look at the academic side and the quality of life on campus; not having a fitness center was a handicap to us."Having three classrooms and a training room in the facility provides a setting where students will train and learn as part of their academic program, Meyer says.The structure will be certified as LEED-NC (new construction) due to the extent of the rebuild and the incorporation of sustainable elements such as re-insulating the entire structure and adding windows around the building.The finished facility will sport a grander Fulton Street entrance some two stories high with columns, bronze panels, glass and ground face masonry. The project is phase 1 of a $12 million plan that will eventually add an intramural building to the west that will house an indoor track and intramural basketball and volleyball courts. Phase 1 will be completed in August 2010. Rockford Construction is the construction manager.Source: Scott Vyn, Integrated Architecture; Greg Meyer, Aquinas CollegeDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Hope Network brings therapeutic architecture to life at new $1.2 million Center for Autism

Deborah Johnson WoodHope Network's new Center for Autism maximizes the positive effects that a building's interior shape, color and noise level can have on persons with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. The Center for Autism is an outpatient facility for adolescents located on Hope Network's Coral Lettinga Campus, 3361 36th Street SE. Mike and Connie Lettinga drove from the Grand Rapids area to the east side of the state regularly to get their daughter, Coral, the special services she needed to help her with her autism. It was the Lettinga's idea to develop a comprehensive and innovative autism center close to home. "People with autism have under- or over-developed sensory systems that are highly reactive to colors, odors, and noise," says David Gamble, Hope Network's director of children's services. "Often this affects their balance or they have spatial issues, like not knowing the distance between themselves and the wall. That's why it's important for them to touch things and walls when they walk."The autism center incorporates design elements to relieve some of this stress, such as, curving walls, rounded corners and pastel colors. Noise reduction materials, including acoustical ceilings and special padding under the gymnasium floor, prevent sound reverberation. Framed pictures of children or a leaf or flower painted on the walls create simple and calming wayfinding signage.The 12,000-square-foot former warehouse features a Model Living Unit with a bed and dresser, laundry facilities, a kitchen and bathroom. "The Model Living Unit is where we teach clients how to make their bed, wash and dry and fold laundry, and do other things that are part of daily living," Gamble says. "I was just down there the other day and we were teaching two students how to make cookies." There are also rooms for sensory learning, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, medical exams, speech therapy and family visitations. Outdoors is a playground, basketball court and a track. A grand opening on April 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. is open to the public. Source: David Gamble, Hope Network; Craig Clark, Clark CommunicationsDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Plumber restores three waterlogged storefronts in downtown Lowell

Deborah Johnson WoodPlumbers slog through a lot of water throughout their careers, but not quite like Lowell's Greg Canfield does it. He's in the midst of restoring three waterlogged 1880s storefronts that sit just above the surface of the Flat River in downtown Lowell. When Canfield, owner of Canfield Plumbing & Heating and a member of the Lowell Downtown Historic District Commission, found out that 115, 117 and 119 W. Main were going to be demolished because of their water damaged foundations, he jumped at the chance to preserve them. "We already lost some similar buildings next door and you lose the heart of the downtown," he says. "That's why I bought these." Connected to each other, the buildings sit at the west end of the bridge that the Michigan Department of Transportation is now rebuilding. Canfield will combine the buildings into one. Window walls overlooking the river and an outside deck provide spaces for river viewing. He and construction company Ridgeline Reconstruction waited until ice formed on the river to start the renovation, reasoning that it was easier to sweep discarded building materials off the ice than to try to prevent materials from falling into the river. Canfield estimates 50 dump truck loads of debris were removed. "Every time the buildings would settle and sink the answer was to put a new floor on top of the old one, and layer upon layer was added over the years," he says. "There were actually four floors in the buildings."Canfield discovered stairway openings in the ceilings of two of the buildings. Research confirmed they used to be two-story buildings, so he's topping them with new second levels. He says a hair salon has shown some interest, and he could put a large residential condominium upstairs. He also says the space would make a great inn or hotel with a main floor restaurant and guest rooms upstairs. Source: Greg Canfield, Canfield Plumbing & HeatingDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

It's all smiles at Holland Museum's playful new photo exhibit


$10 million restoration of Muskegon Lake's south shoreline to begin this month


50 Cent to appear at local debut of Caught in the Crossfire, filmed in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids has gone Hollywood thanks to the tax incentives for filmmakers endorsed by the state legislature. Actor/performer 50 Cent will return to the city in May for the debut of his new movie that was filmed in Grand Rapids. According to excerpts from the story:Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Chris Klein are scheduled to attend the Grand Rapids premiere of "Caught in the Crossfire," the action-drama which filmed locally last year. The movie's debut will take place at 7 p.m. May 11 at Celebration Cinema North; tickets will be $15, and include pop and popcorn. Proceeds will go to the West Michigan Film Office. Tickets will go on sale soon. Klein ("American Pie," "Election"), Jackson and director/writer Brian Miller, a G.R. native, will participate in a Q&A session after the film.Read the complete story here.

Environmentalist finds eco-friendly manufacturing alive and well in West Michigan

Working for an eco-friendly furniture manufacturer has one West Michigan environmentalist touting the benefits of a healthy environment on his blog, and telling it like he sees it when other companies miss the mark.According to excerpts from the story:How does a staunch environmentalist come to work in marketing for a manufacturing company? Jerome Alicki didn't think it was possible to mesh the two worlds, but his epiphany came when he discovered Industrial Woodworking Company, a Zeeland-based furniture maker focused on sustainable practices and products. "You can't do good business without a healthy environment. We're a wood products company. We manufacture furniture day in and day out, and we need a healthy supply of materials. We need a healthy ecosystem to grow these products, to keep these jobs going."Read the complete story here.

Feature Story bakery-250

Starting Fresh: American Bakery Reopens on the Westside of Grand Rapids

They rap on the windows, tie up the phone, even flag down the company van -- all posing the same question: "Is American Bakery open yet?"  Dwight Fausnaugh finally has an answer.

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IIT Institute of Design Plans to Offer Graduate Program in Grand Rapids

Can metro Grand Rapids become a hub of design innovation, a center for forward-thinking individuals to congregate and live? Seth Starner thinks it can, and a prestigious Chicago design school agrees. 

Feature Story tommy-220

G-Sync – The Staycation Is So 2009

It is no joke:  G-Sync's Tommy Allen plans to bury the Staycation once and for all.

GRCC on track to save $6 million in energy expenses over eight years

Officials at Grand Rapids Community College sat up and took notice after being told they could save $6 million in energy costs over eight years by following a conservation plan.

Pine Rest Hospital in Grand Rapids launches new program for individuals with addictive disorders

By Sharon Hanks Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Hospital has launched a new residential treatment program for those suffering from addictive disorders along with post-traumatic stress disorders. One of a very few of its kind in the country, the 90-day program was introduced after research discovered the typical 30-day treatment was not a sufficient foundation for these individuals to result in a solid recovery, hospital officials say.

Open Systems Technology is preparing to occupy renovated landmark on Grand Rapids' West Side

The Drueke Building, a century-old WestSide landmark fallen in disrepair years ago, is being transformed into high-tech playground for its new namesake and anchor tenant, Open Systems Technologies (OST).

Local office of Barnes and Thornburg moves in Grand Rapids to accommodate growth

While some law firms are downsizing due to the recession, Barnes and Thornburg LLP has moved to larger digs at the National City Bank Building in downtown Grand Rapids. The firm's lawyers and other legal professionals now occupy the ninth and tenth floors at 171 Monroe Ave. NW because it had outgrown its former offices at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW.