Civic Center renovation wins architecture award – News – Holland Sentinel

HOLLAND — Holland-based GMB Architecture and Engineering was recognized for its work on the Holland Civic Center Place renovation with a building award from the American Institute of Architects of Michigan.

The $16.5 million remodel of the 1950s-built community center was completed in 2018 and has earned GMB multiple commendations, first from the Grand Rapids chapter of AIA in 2019 and now from the state chapter of the organization.

GMB representatives addressed Holland City Council at its Wednesday meeting to inform them about the honor — the firm’s first from AIA Michigan — and thank council for its involvement and support of the project.

GMB architect Alex Stuckey said in awarding GMB for the project the AIA noted how community engagement informed the design and how the redone Civic Center forms an anchor for the Eighth Street corridor and downtown Holland.

“One of the first things we learned through the public outreach process was the Civic Center was the place where more people felt at home in the city of Holland than anywhere else,” said Holland Mayor Nathan Bocks. “[…] and that became one of the guiding principles.”

The remodel was designed to modernize the building and expand the community uses of the center, including space for an indoor farmer’s market, a kitchen and a revamped gym and stage venue suitable for athletics, concerts, conferences and community meetings.

“I’m just thrilled, so thrilled, that [the Civic Center project] has been awarded this level of design honor at a state level,” said David Wilkins, managing principal at GMB, “because it’s speaking to community development, it’s speaking to the importance of what you value, what we all value as a Holland community, and the deep level of planning that has gone into the city.”

GMB also thanked Edgewater Resources, which provided additional design services, and GO Construction for their work on the Civic Center project.

— Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens.