Renovations & Upgrades | Herrick District Library

Details

Budget

$5.56M

Completion Date

November 2024

Architect

Lakewood Architecture

Project Supervisor

Aaron Kelly

Awards

ABC Western Michigan Excellence in Construction Award 2025

OVERVIEW

This renovation completely re-imagined a cornerstone in the Holland community, equipping the library with new study rooms, maker space, and children’s zones. A three-story floating staircase with natural light and a fireplace reading nook became the heart of the project, combining accessibility, creativity, and craftsmanship in a vibrant community centerpiece.

DESCRIPTION

A cornerstone of the Holland community, the Herrick District Library was in desperate need of a comprehensive renovation and re-imagining. From regular water intrusion issues to restricted people movement to spaces that no longer met the needs of their patrons, the community was ready for something new. The Lakewood team provided a complete design-build process for Herrick—tailoring designs around maximizing sightlines, natural light, and incorporating design elements that speak to the local culture and community.

Key components of this project include new collaboration, study, and meeting rooms, open technology and creation spaces, reading areas, teen spaces, and office space. The project also included significant and complex work on structural elements including new people flow, relocation of the main 3-floor staircase, correcting structural and roof seam issues, and mitigating water intrusion.

The Lakewood Carpentry team built and finished maple panels throughout the library to match the existing woodwork and aesthetics to keep a rich natural feel to the space.

“Lakewood staff were indispensable in the design phase. They took time to listen carefully to us and help us think through areas that were not on our radar. They helped us prioritize the project, were responsive to all our needs and questions, and most importantly, offered thoughtful solutions within our scope and budget.”- Diane Kooiker, Library Director

Jim & Eileen Heeringa Dance Wing | Hope College

Details

Budget

$4M

Completion Date

October 2024

Architect

HGA

Project Supervisor

Steve Weatherwax

Overview

Hope College sought to expand its facilities to enhance the dance program and meet accreditation standards for their dance department. The result is a stunning 4,500-square-foot, two-story addition that includes a new practice and performance studio, dressing rooms, backstage areas, restrooms, and storage space.

A unique feature of this project is the specialized Harlequin flooring in the studio, designed specifically for dancers. This spring floor, covered with welded-seam vinyl, eliminates the need for frequent retaping, saving significant time and money over the year while reducing tripping hazards.

The addition’s striking red paneling is a highlight of the addition, both setting it apart from the rest of campus, while also serving as a transitional piece. It bridges the architectural styles of the campus’ brick buildings to the art campus across the street, which features more paneling and red accents. These panels required careful planning and installation as they were designed to act like a sundial—creating moving shadows as the sun moves across the sky to mimic the movement and transitions of the dancing that fills the space.

“The beauty of the new Jim and Eileen Heeringa Dance Wing is that it is both an artistic statement in the greater landscape of Hope College, as well as a functional and inspirational space to work in. The exterior of the building causes community members to not only enjoy the artistry of its exterior, but the floor-to-ceiling windows invite community members to watch the beauty of dance being created on the inside. It is quite literally a convergence of static (architectural) and living art. The team at Lakewood was a joy to work with from beginning to end. They continued to listen to and execute the very specific needs required for a professional dance facility, and whenever adjustments were needed they were ready to act. Overall, we are delighted with the quality of detail, and their continued efforts to work within the institutions’ schedule and budgetary needs.” – Matt Farmer, Dorothy Wiley DeLong Endowed Chair of Dance

BEHIND THE SCENES!

Check out our behind the scenes job site tour with Hope College’s President Scogin!

Woodlands Discovery Preschool | Outdoor Discovery Center

Details

Budget

$1.2M

Completion Date

August 2024

Architect

Lakewood Construction

Project Supervisor

Joe Schmitt

Overview

The Outdoor Discovery Center (ODC), a premier outdoor education and conservation organization in West Michigan, sought to expand its network of their popular early childhood outdoor learning centers. After selecting a new venue, the ODC and Lakewood Construction teamed up to begin a long standing partnership.

The original building was kept, providing the structure for the project, while the inside was completely demoed and built out. The site underwent significant upgrades, including the remodeling of the parking lot to accommodate the creation of outdoor classrooms. The new facility features five classrooms designed for children from infancy to age five, each equipped with age-appropriate bathrooms and kitchenettes. Additional spaces include a conference room, storage/curriculum room, break room, laundry room, and an open meeting area.

The highlight of the project is the outdoor learning playground, designed with unique equipment and a thoughtful layout to support outdoor education programming. The playground’s standout features include striking exterior canopies crafted from heavy timber.

The building also incorporates sustainable elements, such as an Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system installed on the roof. The ERV works alongside the ODC’s conservation efforts to exchange the energy contained in normally exhausted air of a building, using it to treat (preconditioned) incoming outdoor ventilation air.

Renovation | National Bulk Equipment

Details

Budget

$233k

Completion Date

October 2024

Architect

Lakewood Architecture

Project Supervisor

Jason Bentley

Overview

When National Bulk Equipment (NBE) and Brawn Mixer decided to renovate their headquarters in Holland, MI, they turned to their trusted partner, Lakewood Construction. NBE, a leading provider of advanced material handling and processing systems, had previously worked with us on a facility addition in 2023. This time, they looked to us to renovate their breakroom spaces and build additional bathroom facilities.

Employees at NBE faced challenges with inaccessible bathrooms located far from their workstations and a breakroom that was both uninviting and noisy. To address these issues, we constructed new bathrooms and locker rooms that were accessible to their workspace. The breakroom was completely refreshed with updated floors, ceilings, paint, and more. In order to alleviate the noise levels, we collaborated with the client to explore options. We found a solution using insulation spray, that while differing from the client’s original plan, was able to bring more efficient noise cancellation.

The impact of these renovations were felt immediately. With improved facilities, employee morale and productivity increased. NBE celebrated the upgrades by hosting an event in their newly revitalized space immediately upon completion.

Office Upgrade | Buhler Prince

Details

Budget

$380k

Completion Date

October 2025

Architect

ROI Design

Project Supervisor

Tyler Current

Overview

BuhlerPrince Group, a global leader in die-casting equipment, sought to upgrade their world headquarters in Holland, MI. Drawing inspiration from their European roots, the redesign features unique linework and distinctive aesthetics, representing a transition into a new atmosphere and spirit for their main office.

The centerpiece of the office is the light fixture installation in the main conference room. This 8-foot-wide, circular statement piece received updated panels and energy-efficient LED lighting. The new conference table was carefully selected to complement the light above and mirror the design.

The kitchen and break room renovation helped to address long standing issues, such as pest problems and outdated appliances, which had grown to impact employee moral. The renovated space now includes fresh flooring, modern cabinetry, updated paint, and a dedicated coffee break area. Due to past problems, we increased the scope of the project to include additional rodent proofing, without impacting cost and schedule, to help this space serve them for years to come.

The effects of the upgrade was immediately felt by the staff as employee collaboration and socialization increased and the owner’s felt “a night and day difference”.

Aquatic Renovations | MVP Rockford

Details

Budget

$730k

Completion Date

October 2024

Project Supervisor

Jason Bentley

Overview

MVP Sports Clubs, a premier fitness center in West Michigan, set out to revitalize their pool area at the Rockford campus with a stunning transformation. This update included new tiling, upgraded drainage systems, and refreshed locker rooms.

The client dreamed of tiling the interior of the main pool room, which meant removing over 550 ft of outdated trench drains, in order to move up the drainage system to match where the tiles would be installed. The tiles had to be installed with intense precision and placed within the exact measurements to match the layout.

Although the pool was closed for construction, the rest of MVP’s facility remained operational. The project operated on a strict timeline to meet the desires of the client to open the pool back to guests as soon as possible. Working within an occupied space posed unique challenges, as our team carefully balanced efficiency with minimizing disruptions to guests, as well as ensuring care and grace at every step to ensure that the pool facility and drainage systems remained clean and unblocked.

Thanks to a well-coordinated effort, MVP Rockford reopened their upgraded aquatic facility to guests in October 2024. Now a repeat client, the success of the project represented a high level renovation to deliver a complete, modernized upgrade.