GMB Architecture + Engineering Wins 2021 Interior Design Award from AIA Grand Rapids for Warner Norcross + Judd’s offices
Recognized by the premier authority for excellence in the built environment, the law offices celebrate “a better partnership”
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP’s headquarters in the new Warner Building, designed by GMB Architecture + Engineering, received a 2021 Interior Architecture Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Grand Rapids.
The annual awards celebrate excellence in local architecture and architectural design by honoring projects completed, individual architects, students and community leaders for their contributions to the profession. Founded in 1857, AIA is the preeminent professional organization for architects across the country, working to create more valuable, healthy, secure and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities through the creation and promotion of ethical standards and code of conduct for all members.
Warner is the anchor tenant in the Warner Building in downtown Grand Rapids, housing more than 240 attorneys and staff of the Michigan law firm. Designed to enhance teamwork and improve the experience for clients, attorneys, and staff, the new offices designed by GMB include five floors of enclosed offices surrounded by open workstation pods, as well as staff collaboration spaces.
“The interior space is a physical reminder of the firm’s mantra, ‘A Better Partnership,’ and the layout and relationship of each space helps realize that narrative,” said Dan Tyrer, AIA, LEED AP, design leader at GMB. “Connecting people through the power of design is what our collaborative, multidisciplinary team seeks to accomplish with each client and project. To be selected for this AIA award is truly an honor and reflects our commitment to fostering partnerships with our clients and our communities to create designs that impact the educational experience at every age.”
The 75,000-square-foot office’s top floor contains client-serving spaces including a lobby, conference space, client hoteling, kitchen, and exterior patio. The Grand River makes a naturally panoramic backdrop for the west-facing main lobby and terrace, a layout echoed on all floors, where interior glass walls help natural light penetrate deeper into the building. Ensuring flexibility across the space helps maximize its functionality and make the square footage more efficient.
“The finished space truly exceeded our expectations and will provides a wonderful space for us to welcome clients and our community partners, as well as offer a flexible, functional workspace that meets the needs of attorneys and staff,” said Managing Partner Douglas A. Dozeman. “Many hands went into this project, and we took great care at each step to ensure we were creating a space for everyone. We are pleased the great work of GMB has been recognized with this award.”
In addition to the interior design and engineering services provided by GMB, the Warner Building was built and developed by Orion Construction, Dan Vos Construction served as the general contractor for the buildout of Warner’s offices and ABD Engineering & Design supplied acoustics throughout the space. Office furniture throughout the new space was supplied by Interphase Interiors using products from Haworth, a longtime client of Warner’s.
View additional photos and learn more about the project in our portfolio.
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 North America. 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.
About Warner
By providing discerning and proactive legal advice, Warner Norcross + Judd builds a better partnership with its clients. Warner is a corporate law firm with 230 attorneys practicing in eight offices throughout Michigan: Grand Rapids, Detroit, Midland, Macomb County, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Lansing, Holland and Bloomfield Hills. To learn more, visit www.wnj.com, follow us on Twitter @WNJLLP or connect on LinkedIn.
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