Story

When it looks impossible and people say it can’t be done, call Kent.  Houseman Field Renovations in Grand Rapids, Michigan was just such a project.  In the fall of 2008, The Grand Rapids Public Schools decided to update the existing structure that was over eighty years old by renovating some parts and tearing down and replacing other parts.  The challenge was that all of the demolition and construction had to take place within a six month window, on a tight site, with multiple trades. 

In April of 2009, Kent Companies was awarded the concrete scope of work through the public bid process, and began immediately meeting with the construction manager, Rockford Construction, to review the schedule and look for means and methods to gain time and efficiencies.  The complexity of the concrete work was apparent immediately.  The home locker room would be contained within a 30’ tall retaining wall, one of the tallest continuous wall pours in West Michigan.  There would be other numerous tall concrete walls within the facility that had to be installed the same time the demolition, site improvements, and masonry work would be ongoing. 

Throughout the process, the many talents of Kent Companies were brought to bear on the project.  When the owner wanted the curbing around the track replaced, they called on Kent to design the radius and layout the curbing to match the existing slopes at the track edge.  When the bleacher system design required additional support, Kent Foundation Systems installed helical piers between some of the 1923 era retaining walls to allow the new bleachers to span over them. 

Due to the schedule’s requirements of multiples areas of construction on the site, Kent Companies put over 30 men on the job.  They worked long days to deliver the project on time and to the quality expectations of the customer, even amongst the many changes that come with renovating and updating an 85 year old structure.  The hard work and determination paid off when the stadium was re-dedicated at the first home football game late that same summer, completed on time by a deadline many thought could not be met.