May 30, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College historic renovation projects reflect the college “created a campus that embraces, and is embraced by, the community,” city leaders said.
GRCC was honored by the Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission with the 2023 Outstanding Preservation Project by a Group award for recent renovations to Steven C. Ender Hall and the Custer Alumni House.
“The renovation work GRCC has undertaken for not just these two buildings but for the entire campus has been exceptional,” the commission noted. “It would have been easy to create an isolated island. But GRCC invested its time and energy into ensuring the campus remained part of the community and that it continued to interact and respect the historically important buildings, its neighborhood and city. GRCC created a campus that embraces, and is embraced by, the community.”
The 3,850-square-foot Steven C. Ender Hall is used for student-focused departments, including the Experiential Learning and the Honors programs, and Student Employment Services. It also provides space for Student Life clubs and organizations to meet.
Progressive AE and Pioneer Construction worked with GRCC, local building officials, and the city’s Historic Preservation Commission on the $3.4 million renovation.
The project included repairing all masonry, restoring all windows, replacing historically inappropriate windows, removing the exterior fire escape, restoring the façade, upgrading ADA accessibility, restoring the carriage house, and updating mechanicals.
The Custer Alumni House, previously known as the Lettinga House, is the home of the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation and alumni activities.
The $1.8 million in renovations includes a kitchen, meeting space and areas for receptions and other gatherings – a welcoming place for former students and community members.
GRCC worked with Pioneer and Tower Pinkster on the project, which included restoring the exterior siding and details, replacing the non-historic windows with historically accurate windows, replacing the roof, updating for ADA accessibility, and upgrading mechanicals.
Rhonda Baker, Grand Rapids’ historic preservation specialist, told WGVU’s Shelley Irwin such projects “give us a sense of place. It really is important to remember your past, and keep it part of you as you move forward. The awards are an opportunity to shine a light on organizations or people who are doing something nice in our community.”