Grand Rapids Business Journal Feature

Grand Rapids Business Journal just featured a write-up regarding Visbeen Associates' 8 awards from the American Institute of Building Design's American Residential Design Awards in the "Change-Ups" section of their issue last month. Want to see more about our ARDA winning designs? Check out the ARDA 2011 blog post from last month to see all eight award winners.

Thank you for the feature, GRBJ!

For ease of reading, click here to view the full feature.

An Evening Under the Tuscan Sky: CASA Fundraiser

This evening, CASA (Court Appointed Sepcial Advocates) for children is holding their 5th Annual House Party at our award-winning home design called the Stafford (Design Home 2008) in an event called An Evening Under the Tuscan Sky. CASA of Kent County is a non-profit program that empowers everyday citizens to become court appointed advocates in order to act on behalf of abused or neglected children as they pass through the family court system. Last year, this event raised over $30,000 for the organization, so we are thrilled that one of our designs will be the locations of such an influential fundraiser as this. Check out more photos of this masterpiece below.

To view additional photos of this home, please visit our website www.visbeen.biz > gallery > residential projects > estates > stafford.

For more information about this event, please visit CASA's website.

Grand Rapids Magazine ReDesigning Home 2011

This year, Grand Rapids Magazine is presenting ReDesigning Home 2011, a french farmhouse on the shores of Reeds Lake, as a special prelude to Design Home 2012, a Visbeen Associates and Jeffery Roberts collaboration. They are hosting an exclusive cocktail reception and tour of the home on September 22 from 6:00p-9:00p with proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross. Visit Grand Rapids Magazine's website for more information about this project or American Red Cross' website to make your reservations for tickets to this exclusive event by September 14.

Stay tuned for next year's Design Home!

More than Architecture

It is September 11, 2011, exactly 10 years after the attack on the World Trade Center. That Tuesday morning, one decade ago, marks the moment that two towers became more than just architecture. Yes, they were a part of the city's skyline for almost thirty years, designed by one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century, present in iconic movies, famous photos and part of the everyday lives of upwards of 50,000 people who worked there. But now they are more than just buildings. Their absence marks the lives of nearly 3,000 people that were lost that day. Their absence marks the first attack on US mainland soil. Every architect wants the structures they design to make an impact on the history of the space around it. They want their works to be functional, beautiful, recognizable, maybe even famous. But I wonder if Minoru Yamasaki had any idea the kind of recognition his twin towers design would get? What those buildings would mean to millions of people? All of our lives changed that day, forever. All when two buildings, two colossal pieces of architecture, fell to the ground.

So today, ten years later, marks a time for reflection and remembrance. But also a time for rebuilding. The 9/11 memorial is being dedicated today, to remember every life lost that day and to forever mark the footprint of where the towers once stood. The architecture surrounding that hallowed ground is in the process of being rebuilt. Watch the video below to hear the vision of the architects for these new structures. They clearly understand that architecture is sometimes more than just a building.

David Lorenz in ArtPrize!

The highly anticipated ArtPrize 2011 is less than two weeks away and we are proud to announce that David Lorenz, senior designer here at Visbeen Associates, is an official ArtPrize artist! Three of his masterpiece watercolors, completed in a project for Visbeen Associates and Locus Development for the potential renovation of the building, will be featured at 2 East Fulton along with 9 other site-specific art installations sponsored by Site:Lab + U of M's School of Art and Design. To see all of the dynamic artists that will be featured at this great location, visit their ArtPrize venue page or Site:Lab's facebook page. It is going to be the place to visit for ArtPrize, so don't miss it!

ArtPrize runs from September 21-October 9 - be sure to check out David's work on the north side of the building on Fulton Street!

Happy Labor Day!

Hope you are enjoying a fabulous, fun and relaxing labor day, without much labor!

Cornerstone's Dining Commons Gets A New Look

Cornerstone University, with the help of Visbeen Associates, C2AE and dedicated donors, recently completed the renovation of their dining commons. On Monday, August 29, staff, faculty and students were a part of a ribbon cutting ceremony where the space was dedicated. After a few words from the university's President, Joe Stowell, Wayne Visbeen, a Cornerstone Board of Trustees member, and food services director, Cindy Wiltheiss, a round of singing "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" concluded the ceremony and welcomed everyone into the new dining experience at Cornerstone. Check out photos of this great new space and the ribbon cutting ceremony below.

To read more about Cornerstone's renovation, read The Grand Rapids Press article from Tuesday's paper or Cornerstone University's news article.

Visbeen Associates' original design sketch for the project

Completed Dining Commons

Chef's Choice in center with Deli behind and Fresh Greens on the right

Fresh Greens station

Homemade pizzas are made in Joe's Pizzaria

Ribbon ready for cutting!

A faculty & staff meeting in the renovated dining room

Cornerstone's president, Joe Stowell, and Wayne Visbeen, a Board of Trustees member, exchanging a few words

Wayne offering up a few words on how this new facility demonstrates the growth of the university

Food services director, Cindy Wiltheiss, officially cutting the ribbon

Staff, faculty and students enjoying the new dining experience

Students joined in on the lunch fare

A few attendees dishing up

Fresh pasta made to order in the Chef's Choice section of the dining commons

Joe's Pizzeria in action!

The Fresh Greens section was a hit!

President Joe Stowell and Wayne Visbeen enjoying the festivities