GMB Architecture + Engineering Unveils New Grand Rapids Learning Hub

GMB Culture

Reimaging what work, learning, and collaboration spaces can be

GMB Architecture + Engineering (GMB) has transformed the notion of traditional office space and has opened its first Learning Hub in Grand Rapids. GMB’s goal for Learning Hubs is to create an experiential place for both clients and employees that’s more than a place to do work — it’s a place to exchange knowledge, to learn together, and from each other.

GMB embraces a flexible workplace as part of the firm’s evolution towards their just cause of creating learning ecosystems and opportunity for all. Whether virtual or physical, providing a space for collaborative learning experience with experiential gathering areas is the main focus.

“GMB is a learning organization, and we want these Learning Hubs to be an intentional, multipurpose space for group learning opportunities, community meetings, maker spaces, and more,” said David Bolt, GMB CEO. “Creating Learning Hubs felt like a natural next step for GMB to better align with our just cause and provide a real resource where we can work with our clients, our team, and our communities to provide solutions and connect.”

The plan for Learning Hubs began with identifying Guiding Principles focused on why people come together in these types of spaces. Fueled by a common purpose, to develop relationships and to learn by participation, observation and listening, GMB is ready to build on the momentum of opening the first Learning Hub.

“Our Learning Hubs provide a physical space to complement virtual options for learning and collaboration. They are places for coaching, asking questions, and experimenting with new ideas with our teammates, clients, educators, and students,” said Dan Tyrer, a design leader with GMB. “When designing the Grand Rapids hub, we sought to create a welcoming place where people come together to develop relationships. Diverse spaces ranging from a workshop supporting experimentation through making, group learning and meeting spaces, and focused work areas support a broad set of needs. In addition, robust technology throughout the hub blends in-person and virtual connections; extending collaboration beyond this specific geographic location.”

A number of GMB’s clients are located within the greater Grand Rapids region, including Forest Hills Public Schools, Kentwood Public Schools, Calvin University and more, that can benefit from Learning Hub spaces, which are available to reserve for GMB clients, students, and community education opportunities.

“We want our client experience to be reflective of our own employee experience, to be inclusive of the community and clients we partner with,” added Bolt.

GMB’s new Grand Rapids Learning Hub is located 555 E 4th Street NW. GMB has worked in the Grand Rapids area for 50 years and opened its first Grand Rapids office in 2012. GMB is 100% employee-owned by its trained educational planners, designers, and engineers.

GMB’s second physical Learning Hub is set to open in Royal Oak, Michigan in early 2023.

About GMB

Opportunity for all. That’s the world GMB strives to see. Our integrated team of educational planners, architects and engineers are just one part of the learning ecosystem that will make that happen. GMB believes education provides transformational opportunities for our communities, industries, and our world. GMB is evolving our business to foster a culture of continual learning inside and outside our organization.

As a learning organization structured for ideation, innovation, and sharing of knowledge, GMB’s hubs of experts in Grand Rapids, Holland and Royal Oak, Michigan, and Indianapolis, Indiana, design and engineer projects throughout the Midwest.

Whether in a building or a park, in a course or a career, we believe it takes an ecosystem of people, companies, communities and ideas to foster learning opportunities for students of all ages. We believe that by investing in our future and creating learning ecosystems, we can provide opportunity for all. Learn more at www.gmb.com.