Construction milestone achieved for MSU Grand Rapids Research Center

November 19, 2015

The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine celebrated a construction milestone Nov. 19 with the “topping off” of the MSU Grand Rapids Research Center.

More than a dozen MSU researchers and 35 construction trade workers watched as the last construction beam was hoisted. On the beam were an American flag representing patriotism, an evergreen tree symbolizing good luck and prosperity, and an MSU Spartan flag representing Michigan State University’s commitment to the Grand Rapids community.

College of Human Medicine Interim Dean Aron Sousa commended the trade workers for their safety record in creating the research center.

“Congratulations to the Clark-Rockford construction team for your outstanding safety record in building the MSU Grand Rapids Research Center,” said Sousa. “You have marked these past 25 weeks without incident or injury. Thank you for your part in constructing this state-of-the-art research center that will house some of the top scientists in the fields of autism, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, pediatric cancer and women’s health research. You can be proud to be part of this great medical research evolution in our city.”

The project delivery team for the research center includes a joint venture of Clark Construction Company and Rockford Construction as construction manager; SmithGroupJJR, engineering and architect of record; Ellenzweig, laboratory planner and design architect; Kramer Management Group; and MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities.

"Construction of this project has created $55 million in wages and 728 jobs, and has had immediate impact on our economy bringing new long term jobs that allow us to look to a future where we can build projects to meet additional needs," said Mike VanGessel, CEO of Rockford Construction.