Story

Design Plus assisted the Museum with a concept design study with the goal of enhancing the user-friendliness of the building, while maintaining the historic exterior façade of the building located at 155 North Division in downtown Grand Rapids. Design Plus provided recommendations for improving entrance functions, public circulation, and gallery utilization, including cost estimate and sketches for fund-raising purposes. Proposed recommendations were broken out in two phases. The study was completed in January 1993. Design Plus was hired to be the Architect of Record for the new art museum in 2003. The Museum was working with Munkenbeck & Marshall out of London, England as the design architect. Design Plus worked closely with them and the Art Museum to complete design development and construction documents for the project. Design Plus has been integrally collaborating with wHY Architects out of California to complete the design and see the new museum through construction, with Rockford/Pepper acting as the Construction Manager. Construction began in September 2004 for the new 125,000 SF new museum facility located on Monroe Center in downtown Grand Rapids, adjacent to Rosa Parks Circle, the urban park designed by Maya Lin (Design Plus was also the local Architect of Record for this project). A $75 million Capital Campaign is underway and includes the $55 million museum facility, site acquisition, and operating endowment. The new museum includes a 4,500 SF lobby/reception area, a 285-seat auditorium, several galleries, totaling 18,000 SF, for both changing exhibitions and permanent collections, a 2,400 SF retail shop, a 1,500 SF café, and 5,000 SF of educational area (studios and orientation areas), as well as one level of underground parking with space for 40 cars. The project was completed in October 2007.