GVSU Laker Store
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI

The retail store on the Grand Valley State University Allendale Campus is one of a handful of non-academic environments and planning the new GVSU Laker Store meant looking at its design in a way that held the GVSU brand but was totally retail.

Working for Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber (A&E) and Pioneer Construction, r.o.i. Design recommended finishes and details that would appeal to the students, their families and the alumni of this growing university.

With the advance in technology and electronic books, university stores are no longer just “book” stores but a variety of stores within stores. The Laker Store has fashion apparel, athletic wear, gifts, supplies, technology, supplies and books; and those areas were given different finishes to help cue the shopper.

r.o.i. design wanted shoppers to have the “Laker” experience and with the support of the entire design team we are very proud of some key branded details.

• Custom floor tile that has the 30 international symbols of academic departments.
• Custom wallcovering that uses a motif from the first GVSU course catalog with an array of GVSU initials.
• The 300 banners are intended to represent a water wave, in reference to the Laker brand.
• A 20-foot x 16-foot video wall that broadcasts real-time events from campus activities or video loops that show highlights of student life.

The LakerStore opened April 2015 and continues to grow into the possibilities that the space provides.