The DeVos Place Convention Center is the largest single-site project in the history of the city of Grand Rapids. The center is over one million square feet, and includes a 40,000 square foot ballroom with seating capacity of 4,000.

Feyen Zylstra partnered with two other area contractors to complete this extensive project. Our team worked closely with Progressive AE for design recommendations, budgeting, and value engineering. A congested work site and tight schedule with an absolute completion deadline were just a few of the challenges faced during the project. Our use of extensive preplanning allowed our team to meet and successfully execute these challenges.

Lighting Upgrade
A few years after the initial build, our team partnered with Voss Lighting to provide a lighting upgrade in their three Exhibit Halls. During a three-week project schedule, our team installed 407 new light fixtures with wireless dimming capabilities and integrated them into the facility's existing lighting control and building management system. Although the upgrade lowered the amount of light fixtures from 788 to 407, the quality and brightness were increased to almost twice as the original system. Throughout the project, our team worked around the convention's event schedule to ensure that our work did not interfere or effect the visitor's experience.

Overall, the lighting upgrade lowered DeVos Place's energy consumption from 434,505 watts to 96,676 watts and resulted in a rebate check of over $111,000 from Consumers Energy. “Energy efficiency is and will continue to be a priority in our buildings. Not only because it is cost-effective, but also because it helps us play a part in increasing the sustainability of the community,” said Eddie Tadlock, assistant general manager at DeVos Place.