Construction - ROIDESIGN

First Companies Inc. – New Corporate Headquarters Bring the Whole Team Together.

by Rayanne Rzepka | Oct 26, 2023 | Branding, Construction, Design News, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Workplace Design

First Companies Building Pictures Website_-18

Over the past few years, First Companies Inc. (FCI) has engaged r.o.i. Design to provide interior design services for their customers in the dental, medical, restaurant, and corporate sectors. In 2022, they asked us to help them design the remodel of a 10-year-old building to house their whole team. Previously they were spread over three separate locations, making it difficult to collaborate and communicate. For a company that has clear team values and goals, this was challenging.

Early in the design process, First Companies realized that illustrating their brand and values would take the lead in making choices. Part of their brand is to demonstrate innovation in interiors, and we were asked to make building materials an obvious but incorporated part of the design.

That resulted in the creative use of Baltic Birch plywood, veneer brick, burnished steel, concrete, and integrated LED lighting. We also employed acoustic treatments that look like wood and softened the ceilings. The overall envelope of finishes also needed to incorporate the existing wood trim, doors, and laminate cabinetry.

All new carpets, porcelain tile, and luxury vinyl were added. We used several distinctive styles and patterns to create interesting looks, differentiating departments and functional uses.

The design was not limited to finishes; First Companies saw the importance of continuing a consistent message with décor and graphics. We developed custom icons for their company’s values, and we embodied those icons as artwork. In addition, we created five value boards that are prominent in the décor.

We created large-scale prints using their own project photos and drawings and mounted them on the walls. On a more personal level, photos of hard hats, lunch boxes, plumbing pipes, laying bricks, sawing wood, etc. were researched that complimented their values and aligned with a contractor’s aesthetic. In the conference rooms, we featured some of their projects completed over the last year.

The décor has created landmarks for a directed tour through the new facilities, looking at photos and icons and being able to tell the First Companies story.

A special thank you to the First Companies team that walked alongside us to make sure we got it right: Crissy and Matt Sink. We also appreciate the trust from Craig and Jeff Baker to make the space everything First Companies. Kudos to our team who designed the space, graphics, and furnishings: Marianne Martz, Ryan Bright, and Ronda Geyer.

© All Photos Courtesy of First Companies, Inc.

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Dykhouse Construction Demonstrates Their Construction Excellence in Their New Corporate Office

by Rayanne Rzepka | Sep 26, 2023 | Construction, Design News, Interior Design, Workplace Design

It is of the highest compliment to be asked by a construction firm to provide interior design for their own office. Ryan Dykhouse asked r.o.i. Design to work with them on the design for their new office in Wayland, MI. Their building houses their offices and their tenant, Kent Home Services, a specialty residential concrete flooring supplier. We followed the terrific architectural planning of Dixon Architecture and provided interior design oversite for both spaces.

Collaboration with Ryan was thoughtful, and we really appreciated running alongside his vision. That vision included forward-thinking design, but without unnecessary “flashiness”. Instead of trendy details, the design brief included a desire to create relatable and classic finishes in an unexpected way. The two-story space off the lobby was a great opportunity to use a Chicago Brick veneer finish that rose 20 feet, and to clad the open staircase structural wall with wood planks. In the main conference room, a prominent wall is dressed in a porcelain tile that looks like stone but doesn’t have the real stone price tag.

r.o.i. Design did ask for some “not-so-expected” details. The reception desk has the appearance of stacked timbers highlighted by LED strip lighting. And over the reception desk, where there is a wood ceiling with wood joists, we suspended a black Unistrut canopy that incorporated LED strip lights. This feature is interesting in appearance but costs much less than a fancy chandelier. The rest of the decorative lighting mimicked the black Unistrut theme to create a unified appearance. Overall, the finishes are simple with spots of color in the backsplash tile and accent paints, serving as a backdrop to the operations and activities that happen there.

The new furnishings were supplied by Enwork, a quality custom furniture supplier in West Michigan whose spaces were recently built out by Dykhouse Construction. Their interesting designs added to the overall appeal of the space. We especially like their table bases and table designs.

The space has the classic details of brick, wood, and stone with innovation in lighting and furniture. We look forward to seeing many shared clients in this curated space.

Remodeling Our Own Office Space

by Ryan | Aug 26, 2021 | Construction, Interior Design, Project Management, Workplace Design

As commercial interior designers, r.o.i. Design has designed and oversaw the remodeling of many offices and workplaces. Very seldom do we take the time, effort, or expense to improve our own work environment. But finally, we decided to make some major changes to our office at 1451 Front Ave. NW.

Our process and planning began a couple of years ago. We had recently hired two new team members, and both were working from makeshift stations. We started to work with West Michigan Office Interiors for some of our clients’ projects and began a conversation about our own office. We designed a new office layout in collaboration with them and began the process of getting the remodel underway.

Then COVID hit… Obviously, that put a pause on the whole project. Despite the shutdowns and work-from-home scenarios, r.o.i. Design remained busy throughout the pandemic and finished 2020 strongly. So, in the summer of 2021, we resumed the remodeling.

In mid-August, we moved all our workstations and offices to a temporary space in the front of our building. Painters were in our space giving the walls and ceilings a fresh coat of paint. Then, the flooring installers laid all new carpeting with assorted colors and patterns for defined work areas. Finally, the furniture installers brought in all new office systems. Our IT team reconnected our computers and servers with minimal downtime.

We’re so excited for a better place to work, collaborate, meet, and serve our clients.

Stay tuned for more photos and updates as everything gets finished and we’re more settled in.

Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge images.

German Auto Service Moves Operations to a New Building

by Ryan | Aug 25, 2021 | Construction, Design News, Interior Design, Retail Design, Workplace Design

German Auto Service was located just down the street from r.o.i. Design for as long as we’ve been on Front Avenue. With the growth their business has seen in recent years, owners Ben and Joe Zeeuw decided it was time to expand. Rather than adding on to the limited space of their existing lot, they decided to build new.

German Auto reached out to Pinnacle Construction, which is also located on Front Avenue, to be the general contractor on this project. Then they contacted r.o.i. Design to design the interiors. Marianne Martz from our office oversaw the design.

The new building is located near the intersection of Alpine Avenue and Ann Street on Avastar Parkway. The team at German Auto wanted to create a space that embraces the muscular architecture of a fully equipped service garage. The intent was not to hide the shop “out back”. From the lobby, customers have a front-row seat to see the service team at work. The customer service area offers a large open floor plan with a large-scale visually striking graphic. Thanks to the design concept, the new facility feels engaging and bright.

r.o.i Design thanks Ben and Joe for choosing our team to work alongside them. Congratulations to Pinnacle Construction on a great-looking building.

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images.

Wolverine Building Group Updates Their Conference Room

by Ryan | Dec 9, 2020 | Construction, Design News, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Meeting and Conference, Workplace Design

r.o.i. Design has a 25-year relationship with Wolverine Building Group, and we are grateful for the work they give us in the industrial and retail builds.

When Aaron Jonker and Curt Mulder purchased the company and became the new presidents and co-owners of Wolverine, they looked to redesign their office spaces. While Wolverine does have designers on staff, they wanted outside help with their first-floor main conference room which is highly visible and used frequently.

Our design included updating the lighting and finishes. The back accent wall of the room is clad in large monolithic ceramic tiles with a metallic finish. The carpet tiles create a unique gradient pattern along the length of the room. Wolverine replaced their old conference table with a new custom table using an ash burl top and a base of reclaimed steel girders designed by Robert Mulder. r.o.i. Design also provided custom glass white boards.

The room was transformed and will stand the test of time for the next generation of leadership at Wolverine Building Group.

Click on thumbnails to view larger images.

Mars Hill Bible Church Reduces Its Footprint and Remodels Its Space

by Ryan | Dec 9, 2020 | Church Design, Construction, Design News, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Workplace Design

Mars Hill and r.o.i. Design have a 15-year relationship and we have worked on a variety of remodels as their building needs have changed.

In 2019, Mars Hill sold half of their building’s footprint to Grandville Public Schools, who were looking for space for their Early Education and After School Programs.

r.o.i. Design engaged Dwayne Masselink and Matt Shoffner of InterActive Studio, who have also previously worked with Mars Hill, to partner on the design and architecture of the remodel. r.o.i. Design led the design team and supported Mars Hill in the process. Mars Hill interviewed four contractors and decided on Erhardt Construction to complete the remodel.

Because of the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mars Hill project morphed many times. Budgets also impacted the phasing and scope of the work. Essentially, the scope of the project had to be divided into two phases.

The Phase 1 remodel included remodeling a mezzanine space for the church’s new offices, reconfiguring the middle school classrooms for preschool, reconfiguring preschool spaces for babies (nursery), and creating a complete separation from the Grandville Public School side of the building.

The old offices were separated by a mall corridor and the updated design has all staff in the same space for the first time in many years. While there was not enough room to give everyone private offices, they agreed to all have cubicle offices with private hotel offices being available for project-based needs and studies.

The mezzanine office remodel included new windows and views to the outside. They also created a large outdoor deck right off the lounge and break room area. The office includes a fireplace, several meeting spaces, a kitchen breakroom, and new restrooms.

Details that we really appreciate in the new mezzanine office include the reuse of the cedar siding reclaimed from the first floor demolition, the fireplace, the lighting plan and light fixtures, the curved wall and benches outside of the reception area, and the thoughtful furnishings provided by West Michigan Office Interiors.

Phase 1 also included adapting the buidling’s exterior to create a more appealing entrance for office staff and visitors. Phase 2 will include remodeling the elementary and preschool classrooms and the hallway areas.

A huge shout-out to Ken Sanders at Mars Hill for his care and patience during the project and to Erhardt Construction for their flexibility.