Warming the Icehouse

Take a Video Tour of Our New Home!

2008-10-20T17:36:31Z

The move last Friday was incredibly smooth thanks to lots of planning and preparation. Here it is, day one in our new home and we are almost completely settled in and unpacked. If you haven't already done so, please enjoy the video tour of the new space at grfoundation.org/newhome. Our staff had a fun time creating this for you. We hope you'll stop by for a visit soon!

2008-10-10T21:48:12Z

The Foundation's new home is so close to being completed! The signage is all up, the artwork, including our wonderful ArtWorks mobile has been installed and the donor recognition stabile is in place. We officially move in on Friday, October 17, but on the Monday evening October 13, we are hosting a private reception for our Michigan community foundation colleagues who are here for the Council of Michigan Foundations fall conference. We are excited to give a sneak preview to these special people.

Check Out the New Signage

2008-10-07T15:38:44Z

New signage has been installed at the building. The corner sign, which displays the logo of the Community Foundation, has a copper patina finish that beautifully compliments the building's exterior. Logo decals have been added to the front entrance to give it more of a presence. Also, a sandstone-like sign was installed on the Oakes Street side of the building naming it the Tom and Mickie Fox Family Building. This is in honor of the generous gift Tom and Mickie Fox gave to get this project started. Please enjoy the photos below and tell us how you like the new look.

Finishing Touches

2008-09-29T21:47:49Z

Today, painters began working to add the Community Foundation's name across the top of the building on Grandville Avenue. It was once common for company names to appear on building's this way. The furniture installation is nearly complete. Below you can view our office and cubicle configurations. The white circles hanging from the ceiling are called clouds. In addition to looking neat they also cut down noise pollution. The lounge area and kids room are also finished.

Stabile Takes Shape

2008-09-26T19:54:37Z

Construction of the stabile began this week. The photos below show a large piece of steel that has been shaped into a loose ringlet. This piece will be curl down the center of the stabile and will be surrounded by rounded pieces of glass. The story of the Community Foundation will imprinted on the glass and once the Building Community Philanthropy Campaign is complete, donor names will also be etched on the stabile.

Furniture Delivery Day

2008-09-24T13:43:01Z

On Monday, furniture delivery trucks began rolling in, delivering the new pieces that will fill the 19,000 square foot space. The once empty areas are now brimming with cardboard boxes and herds of office chairs. Workers have started constructing the first desks and cubicle work spaces. Many of the appliances are also being installed. Please enjoy the photos of the space below. In addition to the new furniture, you'll see how we are reusing some of the old stable doors. We are committed to reusing as many of the old features of the building as we can. Please tell us what you think.

The Homestretch

2008-09-12T19:38:45Z

We are about three weeks from the building construction being completed! The Icehouse is full of workers right now who are doing the final phases, the welders, painters, woodworkers, cabinet installers, carpet people and many others. The space is really taking shape and the donors we have brought through this week have been very excited about what we are doing. Some of the very cool features are the fireplace with the iridescent tiles, the reception desk and the re-use of stable doors. We also were excited to see a model of our donor recognition stabile, created by Xibitz.

Students Create Art for Foundation's New Home

2008-09-12T14:03:10Z

This summer, 19 local students dedicated six weeks to creating commissioned art for our new home through their involvement in the Artworks program at Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA). The completed pieces include a large sculpture that will hang in the lobby and a series of large clay tiles that will be displayed in the restrooms. Under the direction of artists Michael Pfleghaar, Israel Davis and Nate Tonning, the students found their inspiration for the pieces in the words community and giving. Intricate detail and symbolism make the pieces incredibly beautiful and interesting. We look forward to sharing the art with you in our new home. Until then, please enjoy the sneak preview below.

First floor and surface finishes are in place

2008-09-03T20:36:03Z

Just weeks away from the end of the building construction, this week brought the installation of the first cabinets and flooring. It is almost overwhelming to see these pieces go into place. The space is looking more and more like the images we've seen of our new home, but frankly it is still hard to imagine what it will be like to work in such an extraordinary space. We are so fortunate to have this opportunity! Our office clean up and packing officially starts this week!

New Bridge Will Light Up the Lobby

2008-08-21T16:11:17Z

As we quickly approach the final month of construction, we've been anxiously awaiting the presence of the second bridge that will cut through the main lobby and make the final connection between the three areas of the second floor. This week, the bridge arrived. Here are two shots of its opaque glass roof, which will bring natural light to the lobby. Also below you will see shots of the progress being made in the lobby on the fireplace, reception desk and vestibule.

The Little Things

2008-08-21T15:00:24Z

Here are some shots of interesting little things around the Foundation's new home that were taken by our summer intern Christina Zajicek. Watching the old features of the historic Icehouse meld with the new has been a treat to say the least. If you have a story about the history of this building, please share it with us on this blog.

Color continues, lobby starts to take shape

2008-08-01T15:37:21Z

This week the massive frame for the reception desk was installed. After weeks of being filled with materials and supplies the main lobby is starting to catch up with the rest of the building. Painting continued in the staff office areas. The photo below shows the new colorful walls in the program department area on the first floor, just off Grandville Avenue. While much of the building's brick has been covered by drywall to increase energy efficiency, the wall pictured below in the boardroom will remain true to its original character.

A Pleasing Palette

2008-07-21T19:29:39Z

Here is a first look at the accent wall colors that were just added to the second floor offices. Each office features a different warm and cozy color. The windows shown here were popped out of the boardroom walls last week allowing light to pour in off Oakes Street. You can also see the final part of the roof being sawed off making way for the second connecting bridge, which will go through the main lobby.

Rollers ready, painting starts today!

2008-07-14T18:53:29Z

With the drywall in place and the sanding near complete on the second floor, the first strokes of paint are going up today. This is just a base coat of white primer, but it certainly adds a little something to the space. Paint fumes will continue to replace the subtle smell of hay and horses that linger in the building when it is damp. On the east side of the building, what used to be a chunk of open rooftop space, has been replaced with a fully enclosed and drywalled bridge. It is incredible to see and fun to walk across for the first time. The major transformation of the lobby is yet to come. Currently, the lobby looks like the heart of the construction with arteries of electricity and other tubing winding every which way. Please check out these new pictures of the future home of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. If you have some time, please also listen to or download the newest podcast in which Foundation President Diana Sieger answers some of the frequently asked question about the building. Access the podcast by clicking here.

What a difference a week makes!

2008-07-01T22:08:02Z

The offices are mostly drywalled, the roof is being torn up for a catwalk/bridge and you can finally walk on a bridge from the second floor office to the old hayloft area. This new area (which was formerly only accessible by a ladder) is now large work area, and a quiet place/kids room for when we need to bring our children to work. We are also excited to be working with the UICA ArtWorks program and artists Michael Pfleghaar and Israel Davis on some very wonderful artwork for our new home. We also have finalized designs for a very cool donor recognition stabile that will be in our upper lobby. Xibitz is doing the work for us.