by Ryan | Sep 27, 2017 | Design News
r.o.i. Design has been watching the trend in interiors where graphics have taken on a role in the final finish of a space. Brand is everything, and a business’s physical office wants to illustrate that brand. Brands include logos, people, values and key products.
Mary Jane Caster, our executive designer, worked with Creston Industrial Sales (CIS) in the past to create their showroom, helping them create an engaging customer space. Now as they are renovating their offices, as budget and time allows, they called us back to help them with their conference room. We appreciate their trust.
While a tiny project, it is interesting because it simply illustrates our key offerings: interior design, graphic design and project management. CIS trusted us to design the space and graphics, select the furnishings, work with vendors to get the furnishings in the space, hire the trades to replace flooring, paint walls, add graphics and update lighting.
CIS provides industrial products and expertise to the metalworking industry, including inventory management and real time purchasing solutions. They are small enough to know you, large enough to serve you. To learn more about CIS visit: crestonindustrial.com
We believe we fulfilled our own brand of Budget, Brand and Beauty for CIS.
by Ryan | Sep 27, 2017 | Design News, Interior Design, Workplace Design
This perfectly located, generously sized and well-appointed office building is going through a face lift.
Hillary Taatjes-Woznick and Doug Taatjes of NAI Wisinski contacted us, asking us to compete to win the opportunity to provide a design for the lobby of Park East Court, off of East Paris in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This “first impressions” area was key in providing future tenants a glimpse into the aesthetics and financial commitment of ownership.
Our design included expanding the lobby into a hallway and a copy/storage room and floating a drywall lid in the center of the space. We replaced a reception desk with seating, and added focal points to the space. The popular gray color scheme of today was used, but with an accent of yellow on the ceiling and blue in the furnishings. The dated mahogany trim was painted. Decorative lighting was strategically placed to create a contemporary appeal.
We partnered with longtime friends and collaborators, Pinnacle Construction, to create budgets that directed the final design scope. Pinnacle Construction completed the lobby remodel in spring of 2017.
While we pride ourselves on our values of Budget (first), Brand and Beauty, we were told we won the opportunity to provide the design because they liked our design, which they thought best captured the owner’s preferences and gave them a look that they thought would best appeal to their tenants. Our idea wasn’t the least expensive but they thought offered the best ROI.
For more information about Park East Court, visit naiwwm.com and search for 4035 Park East Court
by Ryan | Sep 27, 2017 | Design News
Business growth demanded Dooge Veneers to plan for hiring over the next five years. Already their recent growth had new staff using conference rooms for offices and doubling up in offices.
They had a large warehouse area that they used to inspect veneers as well as serve as a veneer sample library for their sales staff and their customers. Their goal was to convert that space to open office with a larger conference room.
Like their current offices, they wanted to use some of their veneers as architectural finishes. They were also hoping they could avoid putting a ceiling into the “warehouse” space, but rather find a way to create a more urban loft appearance exposing the ceiling structure and mechanical.
“Dooge Veneers is a wonderful customer because they are very design sensitive and aware of trends because they provide veneers for interiors and work with architects and designers all the time,” says Mary Witte, owner, r.o.i. Design. “Not only do they understand design, they challenge us and collaborate with us, so whenever we work with them the result is world-class”.
In 2009, the office was remodeled and many of the finishes still looked fresh, so r.o.i. Design identified the criteria for the new expanded open office based on elements that existed as well as taking advantage of today’s design style. Key to the design was the creation of custom “office cubicles”. Previously, Dooge had free standing desks with full height wood panel dividers that lined a wall in a much smaller open office. In order to maximize the space, r.o.i. Design opened up the warehouse to the existing offices, added spots for six people and the expanded sales space. While this meant offices had to be a little smaller, the new “cubicles”, using matched “rustic random” walnut veneer, recut walnut veneer and stainless steel trim, were more than enough for staff to accomplish their work. Their ability to work more collaboratively in the open office has proved to be very efficient and promotes the sharing of information. The new conference room allows for larger meetings while also creating a beautiful back drop to the open office with their new logo on a glass wall. Inside the conference room, r.o.i. designed inset panels in the drywall with FC Sapele wood and stainless steel trim.
This project, like so many recently, we also assist in the actual execution of the remodel, offering select project management services.
Dooge Veneers, whose offices are located in southeast Grand Rapids, has been in business for over 50 years. r.o.i. Design has had the extreme honor of helping this group design and remodel their corporate office and showroom three times over 20 years.
