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

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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.

For more of our projects click here.

Knapp Orthodontics Creates an Innovative Office for an Innovative Practice.

by Rayanne Rzepka | Oct 26, 2023 | Branding, Design News, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Procurement and Purchasing, Workplace Design

Orthodontics is a very personal business. Practitioners meet and grow with their families to create lifelong relationships. Knapp Orthodontics takes this to the next level. Dr. Kevin Knapp is design-sensitive and connects all the dots between his practice operations, patient experience, and office design.

We were introduced to this practice through First Companies, who were working with them to develop the property. We are grateful that they recommended us to assist in the interior design of their new office and have learned a lot through the process.

As a team, we learned that not all clients are colorphobic. Knapp Orthodontics welcomed the use of color in their design, especially when it complemented their brand colors of blue, green and grey. We used those colors to accent the walls. We also introduced an acid yellow to the spectrum and used it in carpet and upholstery accents.

We also learned that some clients are more forward-thinking about lighting and technology. Knapp Orthodontics embraced our design that incorporated recessed linear LED lighting in the lobby and the exam areas. While the overall light level was great, the effect of the smooth surface lighting was refreshing, clean and takes a step away from traditional lighting.

Knapp Orthodontics invested in wall-mounted digital games for patients and their siblings to use while waiting which creates a positive experience for the kids. We responded to this detail by creating acoustic wall panels that incorporated the brand logo behind the games and providing kid-friendly ottomans that can be used while families play games or wait for treatment.

Dr. Knapp and the team inspired us with their vision for booth seating in the waiting area, a combination of quartz and wood-faced materials on the reception desk, and full glass partitions between exam areas.

Thanks to Dr. Kevin Knapp, his wife Jenny and Tara for all your help and inspiration. We look forward to hearing about all their growth and success!

© All Photos Courtesy of First Companies, Inc.

For more of our dental and medical projects click here.

Trailer X-Press Explodes into New Facilities in Caledonia

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

After buying a new blue car, do you see blue cars everywhere? Working for Trailer X-Press was like that. After we met them and understood that they had over 6,000 semi-trailers somewhere, we realized why we kept seeing their logo on trailers and mudflaps everywhere.

Trailer X-Press is in its second generation of leadership and thriving. They moved from a sliver of property in southeast Grand Rapids to an expansive 83,000 SF building in Caledonia. This move allows them to improve all parts of their business, planning for growth and raising the level of performance.

We welcomed the invitation from Daniel Zilzer, Project Lead and Architect at Wolverine Building Group, to provide interior design services for this group. Working with Trailer X-Press leaders Mackenzie, Julie, and Scott was energizing as their passion for their business was addictive.

While we were mostly involved in the office building and parts store, the project included an extensive repair and maintenance “barn” and lots of parking for semi-trailers in process.

When we joined the project, there were already so many great things about the building, especially the two-story entry with a prominent spiral staircase that leads from reception to executive offices. The color red was a clear choice in all parts of the design as it is at the core of their brand and marketing.

Combining maintainable services with great aesthetics was part of the brief. The lobby has a beautiful porcelain tile that transitions to polished concrete for some open offices. Concrete-look vinyl flooring and carpet were used for closed offices and conference spaces.

Designing within their brand inspired the team to use diamond plate dimensional paneling on the reception desk, the staircase half walls, and in the parts store.

The two-story entry allowed for interesting uses of decorative lighting, suspended at different heights based on the staircase and overall lumen needs. The result is fitting to the space.

We will be happy to see the Trailer X-Press logo on trailers and mudflaps for a long time, and hope our readers do too!

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.

Staff Introductions and Accolades

by Rayanne Rzepka | Sep 26, 2023 | Design News

We describe ourselves as “small but mighty” and here are nine reasons why. Our skill set offers a variety of solutions and our teamwork and organization make sure the customer’s needs are first and foremost.

New Team Members:

Lindsey Turner

Associate Interior Designer

Lindsey joined the r.o.i. Design team this year, with experience working within architectural companies. Her previous job focused on food service design and retail interior design documentation. She brings to us her desire for organization in processes, energy for material research, AutoCAD skills, and more. She commutes from Kalamazoo after working remotely for several years. On hire, Lyndsey said, “I felt like I didn’t leave the house for three years!” We welcome her and appreciate all her talents and now works for us on a variety of projects including commercial, retail, hospitality, and healthcare.

Cyndee Thenikl

Design Administrator

Cyndee has years of experience running her own small printing business. As the digital world grew, making print less necessary, she was looking for other things to do. Our part-time position fit the bill for her, and she started this September. Design administration means all the internal organization of job contracts, job files, oversite of contract hours and sample library, and intern management. Cyndee also performs as a singer and drummer in at least one band, making her the first r.o.i. Design team member who is also an entertainer.

Marie Contzen

Fall Intern 2023/Design Assistant

Marie is a full-time student at Kendall College of Art and Design. When interviewed, her clear thinking and variety of work and study experience made her a clear choice for r.o.i. Design. She spends much of her time managing materials and assisting designers as needed. We look forward to her success.

Established Team Members

This group has been designing, billing time, managing customers, unloading trucks, and providing more than the baseline of operational duties for many years. Our new team members do the same.

Ryan Bright

Creative Executive

Ryan has been with r.o.i. Design from its inception. In addition to providing hands-on skills in AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite, Ryan is responsible for maintaining standards in our drawing sets and documentation. His training in furniture design makes him a great asset in understanding millwork design and construction. We have a growing number of brand design projects that combine interior design with graphic design, where Ryan also provides leadership. Based on Ryan’s tenure, we call on him for many things and he has our respect.

Ronda Geyer

Executive Product and Procurement Manager

Over her many years with r.o.i. Design, Ronda has built our product line and continues to provide innovation and organization to this segment of our business. Based on her management background she is a vital bridge between design and product sales. She also provides leadership in design jobs. Our design customers appreciate her, as do we. She comes to us from several creative jobs including landscape design, decorative product representation and sales, fashion purchasing, and more.

Marianne Martz

Design Executive

Marianne joined us just in time to work remotely during COVID-19 lockdowns, and for that, we commend her. She comes to us from the furniture manufacturing world where she worked with clients to create furniture floor plans, select furniture, select finishes, and saw projects through to completion. She has adapted quickly to the needs of environmental interior design that encompasses all aspects of a project and has excelled. Like Ryan and Ronda, as executive members of our team, she has opportunities to lead projects. Her desire to research new materials and develop new skills is commendable. She desires process and organization and supports our company with design compliance and sales strategies.

Rayanne Rzepka

Associate Studio Administrator

Rayanne joined our group two years ago and has dug into the role. She has balanced a variety of roles between design, operations, and product sales. As the business has progressed, she is now focusing on furniture and fixture sales. She posts to the company’s social media and composes our eBlast newsletters. She comes to us with a history in product sales, banking, and hospitality, which has created a business understanding we appreciate. Her willingness to do “whatever it takes”, from ordering coffee or unloading a truck by hand, is priceless. She is managing her morphing role with patience, and we look forward to all that she will be with r.o.i. Design.

Julie Kleinjans

Finance and Marketing Executive

Julie has been with us for 15 years but before that at least another five, taking time off to be a Mom. Her commitment and love for r.o.i. Design is beyond measure and that history has been so helpful as she knows our customers and their habits. Our success is her success. She manages our relationship with accountants at Baker Holtz and provides operational oversight, even though she is part-time. Her commitment to marketing and telling our story provides a consistency that we appreciate.

Mary Witte

Owner and Executive Concept Lead

Mary loves r.o.i. Design and all that we do to make a difference in the lives of our team and customers.

Acoustic Solutions for the Open Office.

by Rayanne Rzepka | Feb 28, 2023 | Design News, Interior Design

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As the open office concept gained momentum, solving the issues of acoustic privacy became a real concern, especially post-COVID.

r.o.i. Design has attended NeoCon for the last three seasons, and the number of companies that are offering acoustical solutions has grown exponentially. Furniture companies have acoustical systems, as do wall covering manufacturers, laminate manufacturers, and even lighting manufacturers.

When we work with our clients who have acoustic concerns, we survey the types of materials in the space. How many hard surfaces are there? Carpeting will absorb sound, while tile, LVT, and wood floors may bounce sound. Are there any textures on the walls? How tall are the ceilings? All these factors can contribute to the acoustical quality of a room.

We suggest a layering of solutions. Wall panels applied from 30” to 72” off the floor are likely to be the most helpful. In some cases, office system panels can provide sound absorption. For rooms with taller ceilings, we suggest hanging solutions, such as baffles, planks, or ceiling clouds made from traditional acoustical tile grids.

Manufacturers are working to make their applied surfaces more aesthetic by offering custom designs, printed graphics, sculptural textures, and more to make solutions more than just practical.

We have used several manufacturers, and they all are excellent options. We can help you find some inspiration for any type of solution. Let us know how we can help your space be more comfortable and healthier with acoustical solutions.