Happy Holidays!

Our offices are looking very festive these days! We went all out this year with an ugly sweater contest and a gingerbread house competition.

Great news for The Exchange!

The Exchange project we're working on with Phoenix Properties just received a $3.2 million in MBT Brownfield Tax Credit. You can read more about it here: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/11/32_million_state_tax_credit_aw.html

Accident Fund National Headquarters Achieves LEED Gold Certification

To learn all about the project's sustainable features, view the article here. Also check out images of the project on our website.

Webcam! Catalyst Development Project

Check out the webcam that has been placed on one of our project sites in Kalamazoo, Michigan (thank you CSM Group)!
http://www.csmgroup.com/cameras/CD7/netcam.jpg

To read more about the Catalyst Development project, click here:
http://www.mibiz.com/news/sustainable-biz/18455-downtown-kalamazoo-property-getting-facelift.html

Calling All Portage Residents!

We need your input! http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/11/portage_public_schools_seeks_p.html

Pumpkin Winners

As an update to last Wednesday's post, the winners of the Pumpkin Carving Contest have been announced! View winners from both of our offices in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo below:

2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

We've got a creative bunch of people here! Check out this year's pumkins and come back on Halloween to see the winners.

The Groundbreaking is Today for NACD's Senior Housing Development

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/10/groundbreaking_planned_for_sen.html

Mlive Article on Western Michigan University East Campus Development

TowerPinkster's looking forward to being a part of this important project!

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/10/east_campus_preservation_group.html

New TowerPinkster Project - Western Michigan University East Campus

WMU names private-sector development partner for East Campus | WMU News | Western Michigan University

Meet Matt.

The Exchange - UPDATE!

Three months ago we posted this YouTube clip featuring a fly-around of The Exchange.  But as you can see from the pictures in our last blog post, the current design concept has come a long way since then.  Check out the latest fly-around below: 

The Exchange

That is the name of the new eight-story mixed-use development on the southeast corner of Michigan Ave. and Rose St. in downtown Kalamazoo.  After much curiosity and excitement, the building is starting to establish its own identity that will change the face of Kalamazoo for years to come.  To read the full press release and learn more details about the project, click here.   

And speaking of identity, check out the new renderings below.  You will notice some interesting new features have been added as the design literally begins to take shape!

Smart Design Pays Off!

TowerPinkster gives $75K to Otsego Public Schools - check out the full story here:

Firm gives $75K to Otsego schools | WOOD TV8

Supporting our Community!

TowerPinkster is proud to support the communities in which we work and live! Tom Mathison, Principal, attended the annual Muskegon Community College Foundation Golf Outing on June 3 in which TowerPinkster served as the Starring Sponsor.

New Mixed-Use Development proposed in Downtown Kalamazoo

View this fly-around of the proposed mixed-use development at the southeast corner of Rose Street and West Michigan Avenue:


Or check out these still images showing the development from various angles and perspectives:

For detailed information on this exciting project, read the full press release below or visit our website.

Meet Perry.

A Thought Leader in Energy

Check out this article featuring our very own, Perry Hausman!  http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2011/05/thought_leader_in_energy_perry.html

School Safety is #1

We spend a lot of time listening to our school clients and parents. Today, their overwhelming concern is the safety of their children during the school day.  News stories of school violence and bullying seem to occur all too often.  One superintendent said it best, “when parents drop their kids off at our schools, they are entrusting us with their most prized possessions”.

Recognizing this reality, TowerPinkster recently collaborated with another local firm and invited a Nationally recognized security trainer to provide four days of intense safety instruction to five of our architects.  The training program (CPTED in Schools - Crime Prevention Through Environment Design) was administered by The National Institute of Crime Prevention. As a firm, we are dedicated to educating our staff on ways to increase safety and security on school campuses. Training topics included a diverse range from landscape design, lighting, color, terrorism and crisis planning, traffic calming and even a site assessment of a recently completed TowerPinkster school project.

Strategies for improved safety can include concepts such as  neighborhood engagement, territorial reinforcement, natural access control, discouraging abnormal users, natural surveillance and improved lighting and maintenance.

If your district is concerned about student safety, contact us to discuss some strategies you should consider to improve student safety and security.

Washtenaw County 14A District Court Achieves LEED-Silver Certification

 

On Wednesday night, project manager Eric Hackman presented Washtenaw County with their official LEED-Silver plaque.  To read more about the project and learn about specific energy-saving features, check out this article: Going Green

144-Year-Old Corporation Hall

Take a look at a story just published about some of our upcoming work!

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2011/03/144-year-old_corporation_hall.html

Meet Jason.

We love what we do...

 ...and it shows! Rob Courter once attended Shepherd Elementary, and now several years later, he is the architect behind the school's additions renovations.  Here is an article and video documenting Rob's accomplishment at Shepherd's ribbon-cutting celebration a few weeks ago: Shepherd Celebration 

Energy Efficiency Inventive Programs

TowerPinkster recently helped KRESA, Kalamazoo Public Schools and Shepherd Public Schools reap the benefits of various energy efficiency incentive programs. From rebates to tax deductions, these programs are nothing to ignore!

Read more about it in this article from MiBiz: TowerPinkster seeing green in cutting clients' energy costs

WoodsEdge Learning Center in the Spotlight

Kalamazoo RESA's WoodsEdge Learning Center received the "Build Michigan Award" from the AGC (Associated General Contractors - Michigan Chapter). Miller-Davis Company oversaw construction of the project and worked with TowerPinkster to design and construct the building, which is on track to achieve LEED-Gold certification.

The project was awarded based on criteria such as:

• Excellence in Project Management
• Innovation in Construction Techniques
• Sensitivity to the Environment
• Responsiveness to Client Needs
• Community Contribution

Congratulations team on a job well done!

Best Architecture Firm in the Nation!

Congratulations to TowerPinkster for being awarded "The Best Architecture Firm to Work For in the Nation!" (ZweigWhite, 2010). To celebrate this accomplishment, we will be showcasing the people of TowerPinkster throughout 2011!