Project Details

As a student-occupied renovation project, the Thomas M. Cooley Law School fills the six levels of 38 Oakes Street in downtown Grand Rapids. The project included renovation of the existing 54,000 sq. ft. structure and an addition of 45,000 sq. ft. Working within a tight urban environment was complicated and required extensive pre-planning due to the lack of storage and staging space. As the building is on the corner of two busy downtown streets, traffic flow and crane placement were also issues Rockford overcame.

A new entryway was created in the first phase that resembled the Lansing Cooley Law School building. The building’s lower level and first floor are home to the school’s law library. Classrooms and office space occupy the second and third floors, including one classroom built specifically as a courtroom.

I think they’ve done outstanding work for us. What I really like about them is their ability to accommodate the needs of the client and the speed and responsiveness with which they get things done. When resources are scarce like they are right now and when you pull the trigger, you want to hit your target fast.

Don LeDuc | President | Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Summary

• Architect: Design Plus, Inc.
• Completion: 2005 and 2006
• Function: Academic Building and Law Library
• Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Size: 98,685 sq. ft.