Story

Land planning, fund raising assistance, programming, schematic design, design services and construction administration, were provided for the Richard M. DeVos School of Business, which opened in the fall of 2000. Administrative offices, classrooms, student gathering areas, conference rooms, study areas, the Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall, international trade center, the Regency Dining Room, the Steelcase Graduate Library, the Loosemore Auditorium, and the Amway Board Room are just a few of the spaces included in this 256,000 gross SF (154,000 net assignable SF) graduate school. It was designed to increase the University’s presence in the downtown area, allow easier accessibility for working professionals who wanted to continue their education, and revitalize the local neighborhood. The architectural character for this award-winning campus was inspired by historical elements seen in visits to the University of Virginia, Cambridge, and Oxford, while remaining contextual to the existing neighborhood, providing a safe and welcoming environment for students. The state-of-the-art engineering systems meet current energy standards, providing efficiency and comfort in a complex collection of interconnected buildings of varying scales. There is also a food service element included in the building, which includes The Gazebo (complete with Starbucks coffee) as well as the Plaza Café. The building received several awards including the “M” Award from AIA Michigan in 2000, the American School & University Architectural Portfolio Citation in 2001, Associated Builder & Contractor Awards in the Masonry, Masonry over $4 Million, and Institutional Construction $25 to $40 Million categories in 2001, and the Grand Valley AIA Distinguished Building Award in 2001. The actual building and site construction cost was $42,000,000. The total project budget and final cost was $52,650,000 including fees, FFE and technology.