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Nicolai NA Moves their North American Headquarters

Nicolai NA Moves their North American Headquarters

by | May 24, 2023 | Interior Design, Workplace Design

Miller Ganapini, CEO and President of Nicolai Diamant NA, reached out to r.o.i. Design after seeing the interiors of Pennell CPA, which r.o.i. Design had just completed at the time.

Nicolai Diamant is a world leader in the production of tools for polishing and finishing stone materials and marble slabs, with facilities in Italy, Russia, and the U.S.

Ganapini purchased a building on 44th Street in Grand Rapids, and it required a complete interior remodel. Unique to this space was that the walls were all a cabinetry system that went up to the ceiling. The goal was to open the space completely and create a modern, European look.

A key partner in the remodel was Haworth, the office furniture giant, whose president, Franco Bianchi, is also a friend of Ganapini’s. Bianchi gave us personal tours and advice on the Haworth products that would provide a forward-thinking, modern look. Working through Haworth’s dealership, Interphase, the new headquarters uses full glass wall systems for offices and the conference room, and a new introduction of moveable systems furniture that allows rotation of desks to provide options for collaboration or independent work.

The interior design was intended to be minimalistic: white, gray, and black. This is seen in the carpet, case goods, and framing selections. The lounge seating added a touch of the new “turquoise”. A few accent colors can be found along with the artwork.

The overall lighting was created by strip lighting hung 8 feet above the floor in a 10 feet tall space. There are a few decorative feature lights. All light fixture selections were inspired by styles by FLOS and other European designers.

We learned a great deal working on this project with Ganapini. There was never a final selection until the best pricing and sourcing were confirmed. We coined a phrase for Ganapini, “No worries, I got a guy!” We did help them find a project manager who worked alongside his trades and staff to complete the project.

 

Congratulations Nicolai NA and Miller Ganapini!

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Acoustic Solutions for the Open Office. 

Acoustic Solutions for the Open Office. 

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

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. 

Commonwealth Engineering: A Partnership in Design 

Commonwealth Engineering: A Partnership in Design 

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Design News, Interior Design, Workplace Design

r.o.i. Design works for a variety of architects and contractors who need interior design at a variety of levels. Robert Pomeroy, Senior Vice President and Principal of Fishbeck Architects and Engineers, reached out in 2021 during a reorganization of their interior design department and asked us to finish up three projects for them.  

“Finishing up” meant working with the architects and project managers to assist in delivering the project as designed. This included answering questions, working with vendors, reselections of materials for budget or lead time issues, responding to submittals, managing FFE (Fixture, Furniture, and Equipment) taking meetings, and overall holding the thread and integrity of the design. And, since this was during COVID when most of us were working remotely, it was especially challenging. 

One of those projects was Commonwealth Engineering in Jackson Michigan, which was completed in late 2022. This was a remodel of a historic bank into their corporate office. In this project, we worked closely with their facility manager and senior management in selecting furniture and furniture finishes along with coordination of construction details with Fishbeck. 

The first floor of this project has many mid-century features that Fishbeck’s designers embraced and complimented with metal, leather, and wood details along with beautiful architectural finishes. The lower-level houses meeting and conference spaces, one of which is in the old bank’s vault. 

Congratulations to Fishbeck and Commonwealth Engineering on a successful remodeling project. 

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Evanoff Dental Builds New Office

Evanoff Dental Builds New Office

by | Jan 26, 2023 | Interior Design, Medical Design

Dr. Karl and Deidre Evanoff were introduced to r.o.i. Design by Dixon Architecture and First Companies. 

Evanoff Dental’s previous location in Muskegon didn’t allow for growth or the level of service and care they desired to provide their patients. 

From the beginning, it was clear that they wanted a simple and clean design that looked professional but now “showy”. They wanted all their patients to feel comfortable and welcome. 

The color palette was neutral but included some warm wood tones and hints of blue. 

Some of r.o.i. Design’s favorite features include: 

  • Painted board and baton siding in the reception area. 
  • Textured and blended carpets. 
  • Ceiling details in the exam hallways.
  • Ceramic light fixtures. 

Evanoff Dental moved into their space in 2022. Now their patients have a place where they feel comfortable and welcome. When talking to Dr. Karl about the project, he commented,  “Things are going very well. I am very happy with the outcome. Thanks for all your help.” We appreciate working with you as well.  

 

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Vos Glass Moves into New Offices and Fabrication Plant

Vos Glass Moves into New Offices and Fabrication Plant

by | Jan 26, 2023 | Interior Design, Retail Design, Workplace Design

Vos Glass started making plans in 2020 to build a new headquarters that would allow them to grow their business, expand their showroom, and improve their fabrication and distribution center. 

Ken Watkins of Architectural Concepts was the architect of the building. Our previous relationship with Vos Glass, as a designer and customer, and with Architectural Concepts, made for a smooth integration for us to design the interiors. We worked directly with John Turner, President of Vos Glass, and Dennis Moomey, Prefabrication Leader. Dennis was also the construction manager for this project. 

The design criteria for this project could be summarized as clean, contemporary, flexible, inspiring, and within the Vos Glass Brand. 

The finished product delivered these criteria with some notable features:

  • Polished concrete floors throughout. 
  • Very well-lit spaces. 
  • Tall ceilings. 
  • Showcasing glass everywhere. Their office area is on display for customers to see a variety of glass installations. 
  • Mindful use of Vos Glass’ brand red color in paint, carpet, and acoustical baffles. 

r.o.i. Design visited Vos Glass shortly after they moved in and spoke with Dennis about the process and outcome. He was kind enough to say, “It was fun working with you folks.” We can say, “Vos Glass it was great to work with you, too.” 

Read more about Vos Glass’ new building in the M-Live article, June 7, 2022. 

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Pantone Color of the Year 2023

Pantone Color of the Year 2023

by | Dec 14, 2022 | Design News, Interior Design

When it comes to the color of the year, there are a lot of experts and a variety of opinions. In September, we reported on Sherwin Williams’ Color of the Year, Redend Point SW9081. Benjamin Moore announced its choice for Color of the Year,  Raspberry Blush 2008-30 on October 12.  

Pantone, widely recognized as one of the authorities on color and color trends, recently announced its Color of the Year. For 2023, Pantone has chosen Viva Magenta 18-750, which it describes as “a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength.”

As interior designers, we recognize color trends and how they affect many industries, including fashion, industrial design, packaging, and interior design. These color trends announced by Pantone usually are seen first in the fashion industry. Each project we work on is unique, and color selections are based on many factors. We try not to let color trends dictate our design choices, but are aware of their influence on the entire industry. 

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© All photos courtesy of Pantone USA