GVSU Richard M. DeVos Center

Summary

Type:

Education

Definition:

New

Description

It’s not every day that construction work sets off bells and whistles, but when the 48 imported bronze bells begin ringing from the carillon tower high above the Richard M. DeVos Center, it’s a regular reminder to the surrounding neighborhood of the expert craftsmanship that went into constructing this handsome campus facility. Grand Valley State University’s DeVos Center was designed after the fashion of Thomas Jefferson’s campus at the University of Virginia, which features several smaller buildings built around a square instead of one large one. The $42-million complex houses the Seidman School of Business, the International Trade Institute, and the Steelcase Graduate Library. Included are general use classrooms, case rooms, a pair of lecture halls, auditorium, computer labs, video classrooms, and numerous faculty offices.

The electrical contract for this project came to more than $4 million. The lighting included many custom fixtures that were difficult to mount due to their size and location. The specialty fixtures were designed to accentuate the structure’s artistic craftsmanship. Site lighting was also designed to ensure nighttime safety while creating an inviting park-like setting. The coordination of this work with the many other trades on-site required extensive planning and exceptional teamwork throughout the project.