Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Original Construction
1909
Construction Cost
$20,000,000
Size
92,000 sqft
Completed Construction
2013
National and State Register of Historic Places

The Federal Building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, was completed in 1909 as the Post Office and Federal Courts Building. Influenced by the Beaux-Arts Classicism style of architecture, its size, proportion, and elegance give it an iconic presence establishing it as a community landmark.  

HopkinsBurns Design Studio, as historic preservation consultant to Tower Pinkster, was commissioned to develop schematic design documents and a comprehensive estimate of project costs for adaptive reuse of the existing building by Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design.

The goals for the project were two-fold: firstly, to enhance the educational opportunity for students as a contemporary higher education learning environment, and secondly, to become the stewardship of an important Western Michigan iconic building, incorporating its historic, character-defining features. These design objectives were to support the mission of FSU and Kendall: to create functional and inspiring space for students and faculty, utilize sustainable design, retain the integrity of historic elements, enhance community connections, and achieve a code-compliant, fully accessible building.  

Services included validating the space program needs, identifying existing building conditions and historic significance, developing design and construction documents, construction administration, development of a comprehensive project cost, and obtaining historic tax credits.