WINNER: Studio Park Lofts & Tower

Story

A high-pressure fire pump was installed to feed the sprinkler and standpipe system in Grand Rapids’ fifth-tallest building. Additionally, fire protection was added to the existing in-use five-story parking garage without disrupting day to day operations.

Facts

Submitter: Total Fire Protection, Inc.

Size: 484,919 SF

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Date contract completed: September 2024

Final contract value: $1,151,000

Project manager’s name: Erich Nelson

Superintendent’s name(s): Mike Wilcox

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 100%

LMCU Ballpark

Story

Total Fire Protection designed and installed new wet and dry systems for the renovated home clubhouse and suite, and relocated sprinklers in the visitors’ clubhouse. Using Schedule 40/10 black pipe with threaded and grooved fittings, the team met a demanding schedule while navigating tight spaces and coordinating with multiple trades.

Facts

Submitter: Total Fire Protection, Inc.

Size: 27,719 SF

Location: Comstock Park, MI

Date contract completed: December 2024

Final contract value: $213,000

Project manager’s name: Lou Markel

Superintendent’s name(s): Kevin Siegel

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 100%

Ottawa County Family Justice Center

Story

D&D Building Inc. supported this project, which had the concept noted as “one judge, one family” by providing general trades services as well installing all the cabinetry, countertops, wood trim and wood veneer panels that were manufactured by Advantage Millwork, a wholly owned subsidiary of D&D Building.

Facts

Submitter: D&D Building Inc

Size: 57,000 SF

Location: West Olive, MI

Date contract completed: May 2024

Final contract value: $2,567,000

Project manager’s name: Derek Roberts

Superintendent’s name(s): Tom Chambers

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 80%

Corewell Health — Ambulatory Care Center

Story

Corewell Health Grand Rapids Outpatient Center is a new 12-story building in the heart of the City’s Medical Mile. The Care Center is a new location that combines several outpatient medical clinics within neurosciences, heart and vascular, and residency programs, along with services such as laboratory and imaging.

Facts

Submitter: Allied Mechanical Services

Architect: Diekema Hamann

Size: 241,000 SF

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Date contract completed: September 2024

Final contract value: $26,500,000

Project manager’s name: Curtis Leep 

Superintendent’s name(s): Ruben Martinez

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 70%

WINNER: Gentex Corporation North Riley Campus Building 3

Story

Gentex water treatment system supplies purified water to 350,0002 SF of production space. Each of the water purification steps—from city water to soft water, then chlorine-free water, then reverse osmosis to deionized water—has state-of-the-art plumbing systems. The system is designed for safety, easy operation, and quality control.

Facts

Submitter: Godwin Plumbing Inc

Architect: InterActive Studio

Size: 9,000 SF

Location: Zeeland, MI

Date contract completed: March 2025

Final contract value: $2,000,000

Project manager’s name: John Bilsky

Superintendent’s name(s): Don Pattock

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 90%

My Lakeshore Subaru

Story

This dealership is the largest Subaru dealership in the state of Michigan sitting at over 70,000 SF across the two stories. The lower level holds the ability service cars in 30 total bays with an enclosed car wash and detail area.

Facts

Submitter: DHE Plumbing and Mechanical

Architect: SVB+Reckley Architects

Size: 70,000 SF

Location: Nunica, MI

Date contract completed: February 2025

Final contract value: $350,000

Project manager’s name: Mitch Vandyk

Superintendent’s name(s): TJ Marlette

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 100%

UHS & Trinity Health MI — Southridge Behavioral Hospital

Story

Southridge Behavioral Hospital is a joint venture partnership between Universal Health Services (UHS) and Trinity Health Michigan. It will accommodate up to 96 beds. It will employ approximately 170 full-time and part-time staff including physicians, nurses, therapists, mental health technicians, administration, dietary, and housekeeping personnel.

Facts

Submitter: DHE Plumbing and Mechanical

Architect: Stengel Hill

Size: 74,813 SF

Location: Byron Center, MI

Date contract completed: March 2025

Final contract value: $3,350,000

Project manager’s name: Drew Bosch

Superintendent’s name(s): Mike Welch

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 97%

WINNER: Grand Valley State University — Lubbers Stadium

Story

As the precast erector for GVSU’s Lubbers Stadium project, Pioneer installed 82 structural planks—some over 25,000 pounds—despite tight access and a compressed summer schedule. Precision lifts and coordinated execution ensured the scope was completed safely and on time for the football season opener.

Facts

Submitter: Pioneer Construction

Architect: Integrated Architecture, JDH Engineering

Title: Grand Valley State University — Lubbers Stadium

Size: 8,384 SF

Location: Allendale, MI

Date contract completed: June 2024

Final contract value: $65,000

Project manager’s name: Dean Hawkins

Superintendent’s name(s): Kenny Jones

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 100%

fairlife — Milk Receiving

Story

Van Dyken’s scope included a new milk receiving building with all the product piping as well as steam, condensate, natural gas, and compressed air piping.

Facts

Submitter: Van Dyken Mechanical, Inc.

Title: fairlife — Milk Receiving

Location: Coopersville, MI

Date contract completed: May 2024

Final contract value: $2,800,000

Project manager’s name: Jeff Dickman

Superintendent’s name(s): Kyle Hulst

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 95%

WINNER: Gun Lake Tribal Gaming Authority — Wastewater Treatment Facility

Story

A large wastewater plant expansion to handle flow from The Gun Lake Tribe’s new hotel and aquadome. This addition upgraded the plant’s capacity of 0.1 MGD to 0.3 MGD.

Facts

Submitter: DHE Plumbing and Mechanical

Architect: Fishbeck 

Title: Gun Lake Tribal Gaming Authority — Wastewater Treatment Facility

Size: 16,800 SF

Location: Wayland, MI

Date contract completed: May 2025

Final contract value: $5,400,000

Project manager’s name: Josh Heyboer

Superintendent’s name(s): Gord Drumm

What percentage of the work scope was self-performed by your company? 94%