Mill Steel

2905 Lucerne Dr. SE 
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

 This project began with r.o.i Design managing a programming step, interviewing a variety of people from Mill Steel and creating bubble plans for Dixon Architecture to use in creating the floor plan. The plan included private offices and meeting rooms, but proportionately much more open office, collaborative and shared spaces. There are a café and a breakroom, as well as a patio and fire pit. Staff have plenty of breakout areas for private conversations or just to get away.

Mill Steel wanted the space to be engaging and represent their personalities; they liked clean lines and assured us they weren’t afraid of color. The interior was completely demolished and remodeled – most new walls have glass doors and windows that open up all the rooms to the natural light. r.o.i. Design worked closely with contractors on the lighting and ceiling plans to make sure the space was well lit and energized. The color scheme included their brand blue color but overall was kept neutral, light and bright.

Some of our favorite interior design features include:

• A metal paneled wall in the lobby
• A “Live Wall” in the breakroom
• Pivot doors from the breakroom to the training room
• A custom twenty-one-foot boardroom table
• Painted wall graphics
• Floors with interesting carpet and luxury vinyl tile patterns throughout the office.

Mill Steel is one of the largest steel service centers in the nation.  They specialize in flat-rolled carbon steel for various markets including automotive, appliance, construction, HVAC, and agriculture. Their 32,000 sq. ft. facility is a two-story building with walkouts on both levels and conveniently located to highways.

For more information on Mill Steel, visit millsteel.com.

Communications By Design

4101 Sparks Dr SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

A technology consulting company focused on the classroom, Communications by Design (CBD) recently moved into their new offices on Sparks Drive in Grand Rapids. CBD Consulting provides solutions and services to help their clients create innovative, transformational learning environments that are supported and inspired by technology in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.

While their new office is the workplace for consultants, engineers, and administrators, it is also a laboratory, classroom, and learning lab for teachers. CBD asked that their offices reflect their technical style, so r.o.i. Design included several details using cable. They describe the training as taking the teacher on a journey, so using birch plywood, we created a row of columns leading the visitor from the entry to the classroom. They asked us to keep the design light and inviting, with flexible spaces for multiple uses.

Some of the architectural design features include polished concrete floors, open metal ceiling decks with organic ceiling clouds, and a partially-covered outdoor deck. Finishes include neutrals with pops of orange and green, clusters of small hanging lights create the illusion of one big light, and a custom-designed community table which features a laminate wood top and u-shaped bases.

All photos © First Companies

BluHouse Properties Office

1680 E Paris Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

 Ryan Ogle started BluHouse in 2007 and has grown the company to include an active team of realtors, property managers and marketing consultants through a variety of privately held and related businesses.

Their first offices on Wealthy Street in Eastown became cramped and impractical, so over a few years, business segments were relocated to other facilities. BluHouse Properties, the real estate business, moved to East Paris in 2016, but expanded their presence there in 2018.

r.o.i. Design has been supporting BluHouse with interior design for many years; for their recent expansion along with interior design, we provided graphic design and product procurement.

Key features of the office include open office areas supported by tiny private spaces for team members to use for calls and focused work, use of reclaimed wood (sourced locally), the accents of their branded blue color, the inclusion of some of Ryan’s key “finds and treasures”, and the team photo wall.

For more about BluHouse Properties, Rent Blu, and 7thRow Creative go to bluhouseproperties.com.