By Joe Boomgaard | MiBiz
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GRAND RAPIDS — As Bissell Homecare Inc. evolved into more research and development and chemical processes than heavy manufacturing at its Walker Ave. headquarters, the company’s space needs also changed, kicking off the creation of its new Innovation Center.

Bissell’s Innovation Center took what had been idle warehouse space and transformed it into attractive offices for the company’s creative group, including marketing and communications, designers and engineers. The team that helped ensure the project come to fruition included, from left, Lon Tiffany from Dan Vos Construction Co., Rob Dial from Bissell Homecare Inc., and Lorene Roskamp of LaurenJames Studio. PHOTO: JOE BOOMGAARD

Part of the project included improvements to the company’s chemical manufacturing line, which received a tax abatement from the city of walker for just under $10 million. But a major visible portion of the project was the 35,660-square-foot renovation of existing space, an addition of 4,850 square feet and creation of a 5,000-square-foot patio. The project formed the basis for Bissell’s Innovation Center, a new space meant to support the collaboration and innovation of Bissell’s knowledge workers in engineering and marketing, said Rob Dial, facilities manager at Bissell Homecare Inc. The company expects to add 106 new jobs over the next few years as it centralizes employees involved in the research and development of new products.

Dial said the renovated facility was originally built in 1958 and served as a high-bay receiving area and truck dock, complete with a rail spur. But as stamping presses and heavy machinery transitioned out of the plant, the area increasingly sat idle.

“This high bay area was vacant,” Dial told MiBiz. “We had a 16,000-square-foot footprint, and we were able to double the space (for the Innovation Center) by adding an upper level. Rather than break new ground, we knew we wanted to rehab this area.”

The vision for the center came from Mark and Cathy Bissell, who called for a clean, contemporary design to foster the collaboration they wanted to create in the space, Dial said. As early as 2007, the company started planning for the project, with the original order calling for room to house 150-200 associates, including current and new employees.

“Anytime you repurpose space from a warehouse to offices, you have to look at the needs,” said Lon Tiffany, design department manager at Dan Vos Construction Co. “We started with a shell of a building, and worked with the vision of adding a second floor and using clerestory windows, creating open areas.”

The challenge for the design team was to keep the second story area clean with minimal intrusion from electrical systems and HVAC, Dial said. That placed the onus on Tiffany and his team to work to hide the systems.

“Everything is positioned in a way to minimize busyness and (emphasize) clean lines,” Lorene Roskamp, principal at LaurenJames Studio LLC, told MiBiz. In designing the interior of the building, she incorporated the intellectual and technology future purpose of the space with elements of Bissell’s history.

“It was an exciting challenge,” Roskamp said, noting that Bissell had never done a project of this magnitude. “There were things about the history that we wanted to bring forth in the renovation. They didn’t want to lose that piece of their reputation and name, but they also wanted to incorporate the flexibility and new elements that are being introduced now. Everything is very neat and orderly. Everything is done in a meaningful fashion.”

Thus, Roskamp said the interior included a mix of classic pieces — hinting at the longevity of many of Bissell’s legacy products — as well as new, flexible features meant to signify the company’s use of technology and innovation to separate its products from the competition.

Large windows also connected the interior to the new patio area, and Roskamp said all the natural light helps expand the sense of the size of the building. A water feature and conference center with a retractable wall help pull the space together.

To connect the center to the existing offices, the team cut an entrance through existing space, rather than leave the center remote and on its own. It wanted to tie the innovation going on in the center to the activities in the rest of the building, Dial said.

Key to the success of the project was strong communication among the designer, contractor and subcontractors, Roskamp added. “The construction team is so key in taking the design and architecture that was on paper and building it,” she said.

The center features facilities for employees to shower and change if they opt to ride bicycles to work or exercise during a break. The Pet Spot, a pet-friendly area, has work and meeting spaces, indoor kennels and an outdoor pet play area. The site allows employees to bring their pets to work for inspiration in developing new pet products.

Dial said Bissell opted not to pursue LEED certification, but the project uses many features that would have qualified for credits. It uses a daylight control system for lighting, under-floor air distribution, rainwater recovery for irrigation, low-flow toilets, low-VOC and Green Guard finishes, and many recyclable or sustainable materials. Many furnishings come from Haworth Inc., but pieces are also included from a host of other local office furniture companies.