Original Construction
1911
Completion Date
1999 Size
28,000 sqft

Originally constructed as an automobile dealership, the historic Albert Kahn building in downtown Grand Rapids sat abandoned before its transformation into a home for the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA). Designed around modern industrial principles, the building features expansive open spaces supported by riveted steel trusses, sawtooth skylights, large plate-glass windows, and terrazzo flooring. The adaptive reuse project presented an opportunity to preserve a significant historic structure while establishing a dynamic cultural destination that supports the arts and contributes to downtown revitalization. The completed facility accommodates artists’ studios, galleries, educational programs, performance spaces, and administrative offices.

Architects Four, the predecessor to HopkinsBurns Design Studio, collaborated with UICA’s board, staff, volunteers, and artists through a public engagement and consensus-building process to develop the building’s design. The firm created a flexible floor plan that accommodates diverse programmatic needs and allows events and activities to operate independently or simultaneously, with room for future growth. To preserve the openness and industrial character of the original interior, enclosed functions—including offices, conference rooms, and restrooms—were organized into distinct freestanding volumes within the larger space. Their strategic placement creates dynamic areas for circulation, exhibitions, and gathering. A centrally located stair and elevator provide vertical circulation while supporting the building’s adaptable, open layout.