Battle Creek, MI – (January 9, 2009) Fryling Construction is honored to be a part of an incredible program that could provide permanent solutions to Homeless Veterans. Medallion Management has teamed with Fryling Construction for a heartfelt project to assist Veterans Affairs in housing the homeless. The community development project will be named the Silver Star after the Army Medal of Honor.

Medallion Management is a property management company that specializes in non-profit consulting and joint ventures. Marvin Veltkamp, CEO of Medallion Management’s vision is to provide an apartment living community that will assist homeless veterans in becoming healthy; physically, mentally, and emotionally. His mission is to effectively assimilate veterans back into healthy independent living.

The alarming number of homeless veterans has inspired this project. Still today, war veterans are in need of aid. Many Vietnam veterans are forgotten, and still haven’t fully recovered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The problem originates from veterans who lack holistic health care on their return. Where physical healthcare was provided, occupational healthcare was not, leaving the mental and social well-being of some veterans very unstable. Many homeless veterans have spiraled into a lonely, unhealthy, and mentally disabled state, where they’ve lost site of returning to the life they had before being in the service.

The Silver Star is the second of its kind. The Saint Leo Campus for Veterans in Chicago, IL has been housing homeless veterans since November 2005. Marvin plans to follow similar efforts; to provide supportive services and counseling to veterans with a goal of self-sufficiency.

Medallion Management has chosen to build on the campus of the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Care Center. This campus specializes in mental care. The Enhanced Use Lease Program from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs allows. Medallion Management to lease the property long-term. These leases are important in that they keep the proceeds in the Department of VA, whereas if property were sold, it would be pooled into the general U.S. government fund and not spent on our veterans.

Fryling Construction is privileged to team with Medallion Management on this admirable project. Much consideration is going into the construction of the apartment development to ensure a safe and warm environment to promote a healing community. Green-building efforts will be incorporated during the construction of the seventy-five unit, three-story apartment building. Green Construction will not only reduce the overall maintenance costs and rental rates, but it will also promote a healing environment and advance healthy living for the veteran tenants.

The design of the building is important because it is necessary to create an environment that strongly encourages community involvement, and to draw the veterans out of their rooms. Many of the homeless have become accustom to isolation, and most of the programs are group-orientated to push socialization and to build friendships. A main focus of the group programs will be on creativity, which activates the creative parts of the brain and will further stimulate rehabilitation. Such activities like gardening, cooking, pottery, artwork, etc. have been proven to add to the quality of life.

The Silver Star VA Home will include non-profit special needs care providers on site. Assistance will be given to help veterans fill out the proper paperwork to receive aid from the Department of VA. Physical healthcare will be provided as well as a comprehensive counseling process. The VA Home will offer many supportive services with the goal of making each tenant independent by requiring each veteran to seek, obtain, and maintain employment. Veterans will be charged a very reasonable fee for rent, and will maintain strict guidelines about sobriety as a condition of occupancy. Tenants are free to come and go as they wish. The main focus is to fill the home with veterans, starting with the homeless, although, space for the non-veteran homeless and other mentally disabled persons may be available.

Fryling Construction broke ground on the Silver Star VA Home last week, and plan to complete construction by the end of Summer 2009. Marvin Veltkamp and the rest of the team at Medallion Management hope not only for success on this project, but for this to be a catalyst for many more communities to come.

More information about the Department of Veterans Affairs can be found at www.va.gov.

For more information about Medallion Management visit www.medallionmgmt.com.

Fryling Construction, a division of Wolverine Building Group, is a Grand Rapids based general contractor with more than 60 years of experience in the construction industry. Serving clients throughout Western and Central Michigan, Fryling specializes in multi-unit structures, historic renovations, tenant build-outs, and storefronts.

West Michigan (December 1, 2008) – Wolverine Building Group is pleased to announce they were the recipient of the 2008 Excellence in Business Award from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. The award is one of three that will be presented at this year’s Salute to West Michigan Business event that pays tribute to the Ford presidency, held at the Amway Grand Plaza this Friday, December 5, 2008 at 11:30 am.

Wolverine is pleased to stand at the 13th annual Salute to West Michigan Business, and gives special thanks to all of their 2008 clients who always steer us toward success.

Wolverine Building Group is a full service Design-Build, Construction Management and General Contracting firm with more than 65 years of experience.

Grand Rapids, MI (December 1, 2008) – Wolverine Building Group is pleased to announce that superintendents Jon Denouden, Scott Fase, Bill Jerow, Jeff Jonker, Mike Stein, and Mike Stolk all received environmental certification from the Green Advantage Program. Wolverine is one of two contractors in West Michigan to have superintendents that are certified building practitioners.

To find out more about Green Advantage: www.greenadvantage.org

Wolverine Building Group is a full service Design-Build, Construction Management and General Contracting firm with more than 65 years of experience.

Kentwood, MI – (November 26, 2008) Wolverine Building Inc. & Post Associate Architects have been selected by the City of Kentwood to design and construct the new Kentwood District Library.

At approximately 43,000 square feet, the new facility will act as the Kentwood District Library’s new flagship location. It will include the latest innovations in Library Sciences, as well as space for community gatherings and functions. Land Development Solutions is assisting the team in selecting the most appropriate location on the Kentwood Municipal Campus on Breton Avenue to place the building; while Molinaro Architects of Evanston, IL guides the KDL through programming. The Wolverine team plans to break ground on the project in the Spring of 2009. The $ 8 Million project better serves Kentwood residents by providing a facility that will include larger reading selections, upgraded technology, and a more serene learning environment.

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI – (November 24, 2008) Wolverine Building, Inc. recently completed a small but remarkable expansion project for Pitney Bowes, a leader in business insight, customer engagement, mail solutions, and workflow management.

Success for Pitney Bowes grew as did their International relations. The server room at their West Michigan Office on 4460 44th Street needed space to expand equipment. Robert Grooters Development Company, developer of the professional office building with Turnbull Poppleton & Associates construction consultants hired Wolverine to head the expansion project. The largest challenge for Wolverine was to perform the construction without disturbing the computer server that delicately holds the bulk of the daily national and international business at Pitney Bowes. The team at Wolverine successfully secured all technical equipment with a dust-free enclosure while performing selective demolition within the room to allow for it’s expansion. In addition the entire 33,000 sq. ft. office area underwent a face lift of new carpet and re-painting throughout the entire office space. The server room expansion and office remodeling work was a fast-track project leaving 150 employees undisturbed during the 8 week renovation period. No employees had to be relocated off site during the work, which was the criteria Pitney Bowes had when beginning the project.

A Pitney Bowes representative stated, “We went into the project expecting problems, much to our surprise and delight there were none. The project finished ahead of schedule with no glitches. I was surprised by how well the team of venders and sub-contractors worked together to get the project done”.

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 68 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI (November 3, 2008) – Wolverine Building, Inc., known for it’s success in industrial construction, has been hired as general contractor for a warehouse addition to Thierica’s display graphics manufacturing plant on 900 Clancy in Grand Rapids.

Thierica Display Products Corp, a growing business for over 50 years, is a neighborhood company where many of its employees live close enough to walk to work. Its current location at 900 Clancy NE, is vital to the local district and its success. Wolverine will expand the building by 10,000 square feet which is twice the size its last expansion Wolverine completed for the Clancy facility in 2004. New parking areas will be constructed as well to accommodate the addition of new employees. As a Design/Build project, Wolverine plans to finish construction within 5 months, and operate without disturbing any existing operations.

According to project manager, Chris Nye, “Wolverine Building group has had an excellent partnership with the Thierica group of companies for the past several years, and it’s refreshing to participate in their continued growth yet again, especially in the current economic conditions. I look forward to the completion of another successful facility expansion.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 68 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Walker, MI – (November 2, 2008) Selected for a second time, Wolverine Building, Inc. is proud to build the new Foot & Ankle Specialists of West Michigan 9th location in Walker, MI. On the corner of Leonard and Wilson, Wolverine broke ground on a new two-story medical office building in September.

The new building will have many modern aspects designed by Wolverine’s in-house architects. The design/build project will be over 11,700 square feet total and will include a 1,200 square foot basement. Foot & Ankle Specialists will occupy the 2nd floor, while two tenant lease spaces will be available on the first floor.

According to project manager, Chris Nye, “It’s a pleasure to be working with Foot & Ankle Specialists again on their new Walker facility. This new building will surely be a showcase for the City of Walker.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 68 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Lansing, MI (October 22, 2008) – Crippen GMC now grabs the attention it deserves off the busy street of Saginaw. Wolverine Building Inc. has helped transform the car dealership into a first class stop for car shoppers.

Crippen, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Mazda, and Volvo is located at 8300 W. Saginaw in Lansing. In business for 50 years, the original showroom needed a modern facelift. As part of a total Buick Pontiac GMC image update program, the showroom space was renovated and expanded to accommodate the new 2009 models. Wolverine was happy to provide Design/Build services for the project. The renovation included a new front entry through a new modern entrance kiosk. Six additional service bays were also added to the existing service area, while two previous service bays were converted into offices and a waiting area. New metal panels were used to update the exterior of the original building to prominently display the up-dated signage.

On the same lot, Wolverine also constructed a fresh 5,000 square foot building to house the Mazda/Volvo new car showroom. Now with a bright and inviting atmosphere, Crippen GMC is sure to succeed in it’s current and future business.

According to Jim Ziegler, Project Manager for Wolverine, “This was a fun project and a great Design/Build collaborative effort between the owner and our staff at Wolverine Building. Joint efforts went into up-grading the GM showroom with the goal of separating themselves from the competition. This allowed Wolverine to create a much cleaner and truly distinctive dealership incorporating the latest GM image package.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI (October 21, 2008) – Wolverine Building Group is pleased to announce the addition of Kurt Adams to our staff. Kurt is a LEED Accredited Professional and will be working as a Project Manager and Sales Representative for the Wolverine Building, Inc. Division.

Wolverine Building Group is a full service Design-Build, Construction Management and General Contracting firm with more than 65 years of experience.

Grand Rapids, MI – (October 20, 2008) Warm and inviting describes the new look for the previously neglected Anhuser-Bush Icehouse. Fryling Construction began the challenging renovation/build-out just 6 months ago, and today the red brick on 185 Oakes Street shines as the new home for the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.

The icehouse was originally one of a network of rail-side refrigerated warehouses Anheuser-Busch built to cool cars of beer that were being shipped long distances. It's one of only two Anheuser-Busch icehouses still standing. The building was previously owned by Chemical Products, which had operated out of the building for more than 40 years.

Today the 20,000 square foot building has transformed into a three level office. The most interesting of features include a fireplace, translucent skylight covered bridge, the re-use of heavy, old wooden doors, and a very accommodating 24 person table conference room.

The building's historic features give the new office an interesting mix between contemporary and distinguished, both characteristics of the GRCF worth highlighting. It’s no doubt the new office will carry the foundation well into its future of success.

Fryling is very proud to be part of this significant project. “It’s been a great experience to give the Foundation a space of their own in downtown Grand Rapids by making use of an unused, historic building, all while doing it in an environmentally responsible way. I feel fortunate I could be involved with an organization that drives such positive change in our community,” says Bill Pursifull, Project Manager for Fryling Construction. “I wish the Foundation many years of growth!”

The foundation intends to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for the building, most likely LEED Silver certification.

Fryling Construction, a division of Wolverine Building Group, is a Grand Rapids based general contractor with more than 60 years of experience in the construction industry. Serving clients throughout Western and Central Michigan, Fryling specializes in multi-unit structures, historic renovations, tenant build-outs, and storefronts.

Grand Rapids, MI – (September 10, 2008) Fryling Construction has been recently selected as the General Contractor to lead the historic rehabilitation project of a long-standing vacant building located in the Historic Heartside Business District of downtown Grand Rapids. MI.

Originally built as a hotel to accommodate the busy traffic on Division in the late 1870s, the three/four-story building will be transformed into a mixed-use residential and commercial building. Brookstone Capital, LLC, plans to construct 20 loft-style apartments on the upper levels while the ground level will have 6,000 square feet of commercial retail/office space available. The building will accommodate below grade parking, while the building’s open courtyard at the center of the building will undergo extensive renovation. Completion of the residential and commercial space renovation is scheduled for summer 2009.

Fryling Construction Project Manager Aaron Jonker says “We intend to re-use any salvageable materials during construction; this will create unique challenges and opportunities for the building as we move along. It fits with the theme of the project, as we are seeking LEED certification which is the nationally recognized symbol demonstrating that a building is environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work.”

Fryling Construction, a division of Wolverine Building Group, is a Grand Rapids based general contractor with more than 60 years of experience in the construction industry. Serving clients throughout Western and Central Michigan, Fryling specializes in multi-unit structures, historic renovations, tenant build-outs, and storefronts.

Grand Rapids, MI (September 3, 2008) – There are many things to explore in the next phase of Kent County’s massive Millennium Park project. Almost 140 years ago the Kalamazoo, Allegan, & Grand Rapids Railroad was completed. It ran as part of the New York Central Railway until abandoned in the mid-1970’s (Berry). Along with West Michigan’s rapidly expanding furniture industry, it serviced Grand Rapids west side gypsum mines and aggregate industry. After years of neglect and abuse, the County has acquired: the railroad right of way, the gravel pits surrounding it, and the abandoned gypsum processing facility. Wolverine Building Inc. has been chosen to help it develop these unique assets into the Meijer Trails system.

In an effort to preserve the original pathway and minimize further disruption to the Grand River’s floodway, Wolverine will rehabilitate the existing railway bed and two of it’s trestle’s into a pedestrian pathway. Many unique features will grace more than four miles of the Meijer Trails as they wind past: ponds, reclaimed gravel pits, wetlands teeming with wildlife, the once thriving gypsum processing area, oil wells, and the mighty Grand River. The route will take you over three new pedestrian bridges, two rehabilitated railroad trestles, and connect to the existing Kent Trails system and Johnson Park. Future phases will connect directly to the main facilities of Millennium Park on Maynard Ave in Walker.

Wolverine’s project manager, Dulane Coval, says “It’s a jungle out there! The terrain and vegetation almost remind me of the swamps of Louisiana. We’re working in an area where the misquotes are as big as sparrows and a heavy rain can shut you down in a matter of an hour. The deer are so thick that we’re going to loose more time to workers dreaming of hunting season than every other distraction combined. In all seriousness, this project is going to throw a lot of obstacles at us, but we have a very strong team and a great design from O’boyle, Cowell, Blalock & Associates, Inc., and their engineers at Byce. & Associates, Inc. It’s one of those oddball projects that’s a logistical nightmare, but it will be a very remarkable project and a great asset to West Michigan when it’s done.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 68 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Reference:Berry, Dale. michiganrailroads.com. 16 Aug. 2008. RRHX: Michigan's Internet Railroad History Museum. 03 Sept. 2008 .

Holland & Jenison, MI (August 29, 2008) – Soon to come, the Fall and Winter seasons look eventful as Wolverine Building, Inc. prepares to build two West Michigan retail centers. Jim Courtney managing partner of Walvery, LLC and 348 Baldwin, LLC has partnered with Wolverine to tackle both projects concurrently.

The first project is a new 8,000 square foot building that will hold six retail spaces. The strip mall will certainly have leasing appeal as it is conveniently located near the busy Holland Meijer at 700 East 16th Street. The second retail center will be located at 348 Baldwin in Jenison. Totaling 6,000 square feet, the building will house four retail spaces for lease.

Designed by architectural firm, Post Associates, each building will be constructed with pre-engineered steel, and the façades will incorporate a combination of colored masonry and cast stone. Plans call for both projects to begin within a month, and to be completed shortly after the New Year.

According to project manager, Dulane Coval, “Recent fluctuations in construction commodities forced these projects into a price range that was unacceptable to the owner. Working closely with the project architect and engineer, we were able to offer value management suggestions that gave them more suitable costs. It’s our job to always see that the companies managing the properties achieve their goals, and we are more than pleased to make that happen for them.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 68 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI (August 29, 2008) – Wolverine Building Group is pleased to announce that Aaron Davis, Assistant Project Manager for the Wolverine Construction Management Division, received LEED accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Wolverine Building Group is a full service Design-Build, Construction Management and General Contracting firm with more than 65 years of experience.

Grand Rapids, MI (August 13, 2008) – Providing construction management services to the Kent Intermediate School District, Wolverine Building has recently completed the demolition and renovation of the KISD Aviation Hangar located near the Ford International Airport.

The design/build project transformed the existing hangar into a 12,000 square foot building with a mezzanine, a barrier free lift, and hangar space. Wolverine constructed two levels of new classrooms for the specialty student programs of the Kent Career Technical Center. The renovation included an aviation mechanic learning program center, as well as classrooms for the newly installed NASA program.

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI (August 5, 2008) – Wolverine Building Inc. has been selected general contractor for the remodel of a 7,000 square feet office suite for Ryerson, Inc. at 3100 Orchard Vista in Grand Rapids.

Ryerson is a leading distributor and processor of metals in North America. The Design/Build 7 week remodel is a selective demolition project, where existing doors and hardware will be reused, while new flooring, carpet, and wall coverings will be installed. The challenge will be to fit the old with the new and make a comfortable finished office space for Ryerson to expand their metal services to West Michigan.

According to project manager Bill Carmean, “It is exciting to be back in this building to continue with the improvements. I am looking forward to working with George Wanty and Nancy McDonough from Midwest Capitol Advisors once again. After the recent remodel to the exterior and interior common areas, it will be rewarding to be a part of the remaining upgrades to the building.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

West Michigan, MI (August 1, 2008) – Wolverine Building Inc. has been very active wrapping up several upgrade projects in West Michigan this summer.

Area Wide OB/GYN- Build-Out Recently completing the remodel of a 6,370 square feet suite at the Spectrum South Pavilion, Wolverine welcomes the new location for Area Wide OB/GYN Health Services. The 10 week remodel was a selective demolition project, where many existing features were reused while incorporating them with new finishes. Area Wide OB/GYN has moved in and is currently serving West Michigan women.

Packaging Corporation of America- Wolverine completed numerous remodeling projects at the Packing Corporation of America manufacturing plant in Grandville. Projects included the remodel of all existing bathrooms; replacement of plumbing fixtures, installation of new stainless steel partitions, new forced air hand dryers, new mirrors & cabinetry, new ceiling grid & tile and fresh paint throughout the existing bathrooms.

Advanced Packaging- Advanced Packaging’s growth and success called for an expansion to their state-of-the-art facility originally built by Wolverine a year ago. Wolverine built an additional 3,400 square feet of office space, and made other improvements to the building including an eyebrow canopy, an exterior dust collection unit, and a new entry canopy into the design area of the facility. Advance Packaging continues to upgrade their facility to make it more efficient and user friendly. Wolverine Building Inc. is proud to be a continuous aid to West Michigan’s ongoing business expansions, updates, and improvements.

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI – (August 1, 2008) Wolverine Building, Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of an office addition for the locally owned slit steel supplier, Magic Steel Corporation, lead by Joe Maggini. The addition expanded 1,000 square feet to the north side of Mr. Maggini’s office. The remodel included new carpeting, ceramic tile, new ceiling grid & tile and fresh paint throughout the entire office space, as well as reworking the parking lot.

What makes this project especially special is the extra space is used now to showcase Mr. Maggini’s passion for game hunting. Entering the office felt almost like walking into an African Safari. Dozens of wild animals adorned every inch of the walls, each one having a unique story. The collection included an extensive collection of large birds, spiral horned animals, a full size lion, two full sized grizzly bears, the head of a cape buffalo, a zebra-skin rug, and many more impressive displays. Much artwork was also seen in the room, African masks, hand-carved canes, sculptors and paintings tied into the wild décor of the room. The collection is far from complete, as Mr. Maggini mentioned his plans for a cougar hunt this year.

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing construction services to clients throughout Western and Central Michigan. They specialize in the construction of commercial and industrial facilities, including office, retail, churches, warehouses, and manufacturing buildings.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (July 7, 2008) Set to become the most prestigious address in Grand Rapids, River House Condominiums by Robert Grooters Development Company, is inching closer to making history as it reaches another landmark in its development.

After 2-1/2 years of construction, the final beam will be raised to commemorate the maximum height that will be reached by the tower, adding a striking new dimension to the Grand Rapids skyline.

On Wednesday, July 30th a “Topping out” Ceremony will be held to mark the occasion. “Topping out” is a longstanding tradition in the construction industry, in which a fir tree and the United States flag are placed on a steel beam and carried to the top.

The luxury residential development will be the tallest building in Grand Rapids at 404 feet and the tallest 100% residential building in the state of Michigan.

Local architectural firm, DTS & Winkelmann, is responsible for the overall delivery of the condo’s modern design, which features vast open spaces flooded with natural light from the floor-to-ceiling glass exterior walls in every home.

River House Condominiums, constructed by Wolverine Construction Management, will house a total of 207 homes when completed with occupancy beginning in October of this year. The 34-story residential high-rise will redefine downtown living with unobstructed views of the city, luxury amenities and a prime Grand River location.

Caledonia, MI – (June 18, 2007) Wolverine Building Inc. has recently completed the new home for The Campbell Group’s Corporate Headquarters. The new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified facility is located Caledonia Township at 5650 Prairie Creek Drive and is a prominent eye-catcher driving Eastbound on M-6.

A successful Michigan business with 150 employees, The Campbell Group is one of the largest “independent” insurance providers in Michigan. Their need for expansion called for a talented architectural firm, Integrated Architects, and a quality construction team. The end product has much to say about the team Wolverine Building put together for this distinguished project.

The exterior consists of about 50% of tinted glass, stone veneer, and horizontal metal panel accents. The challenge in design is that all four sides of the building have great views and access. It is like having a home with a main entrance on each side. All elevations of the building have spectacular views of wooded areas, ponds, fountains, a waterfall, and wildlife also making their surroundings a new home.

According to Mike Kelly, President for Wolverine Building Inc., “This is a uplifting facility that will make it a joy for people that work in it to go to work every day, each view out any window is like looking at a wildlife nature scene”

The 52,000 square foot two-story conventional steel office building features a large open floor plan to allow for a custom tailored Systems Furniture layout. The first and second floor combined allow for 21,000 square feet of office space. The first floor will include the reception area, entryway, offices, and a 4,000 square foot café, while office space will encompass the majority of the second floor. An additional 8,000 square foot walk-out basement will house a fitness area with locker rooms, training room, IT room, mechanical room, and storage space.

Much planning and design went in to incorporate LEED construction practices. Everything from the heating and cooling system, plumbing, windows, carpet, and office furniture have features encouraging environmental preservation. The goal was to minimize the facility’s impact on the environment, reduce overall operational costs, and promoting a healthy workspace for its occupants. A few key project features are landscaping species native to Michigan, low water volume lawn irrigation that takes water out of a nearby man made pond, the bond is filled by rain water run off that is collected and routed to the pond. Water efficient sinks, toilets, urinals, and appliances were installed. The use of high efficiency glazing will help promote day-lighting to minimize the facilities energy use. A raised floor system with heating, cooling, and wiring below the floor will allow for more open space, efficiencies, and individual control. All during the construction phase waste and masonry waste material was be recycled. Low-Emitting Materials, such as carpeting, paints, and wood, were all used.

“The goal here was to build a facility that works with its environment, not against it. Being good stewards of our planet isn’t as hard as you might think.” said Vaughn Aikens, LEED Project Manager for Wolverine Building Inc.

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Wyoming, MI – (May 30, 2008) Grand Rapids Plastics returns to Wolverine Building, Inc. to expand their production warehouse space. Located in Wyoming, Grand Rapids Plastics is a premier plastics molding and plastics assembly manufacturer. Known for specializing in automotive, office furniture and appliance products, Grand Rapids Plastics is in need to enlarge their production floor.

This design/build addition will include over 27,000 square feet of new warehouse space to add to their existing 80,000 square foot campus. Wolverine will be constructing the building from pre-engineered steel. The new facility will house additional extrusion machinery for Grand Rapids Plastics increased production requirements. The project has recently begun construction and plan to finish by this Fall 2008.

According to project manager, Jim Ziegler, “With the demise of companies like Plastech and other unfortunate plastic manufacturers, Grand Rapids Plastics is preparing itself to respond to the future injection molding demand from the automotive, furniture, and appliance industries.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 68 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI - (May 19, 2008) Wolverine Building, Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of the expansion and remodel of the locally renowned International food and wine store, G.B Russo & Son, located at 2770 29th Street SE. This gourmet mom & pop shop has captivated the Greater Grand Rapids area for over a century. President Phil Russo mentioned, “We’ve evolved a lot in our 103 years of business, but have upheld the tradition of personally helping our customers with anything they need. We hope that our newly remodeled store will be a more comfortable shopping experience for our valued customers.”

Wolverine Building’s in-house architect, Gordon Jendritz and ROI Design gave the specialty grocery store a modern face-lift. The new store includes a large inviting entrance, higher ceilings, wider isles, more space for their popular deli and wine selections, and bright colors bursting from every wall. The expansion consisted of an additional 8,000 square feet of retail space to the former 10,000 square foot store. The project also included the renovation of the entire existing facility and significant exterior upgrades to the façade, parking lot, utilities and landscape.

Russo’s remained open during the entire process of construction. Wolverine’s team tackled the challenge of keeping construction disturbance minimal during store hours. Cashier Supervisor, Gina Russo-Rea explains, “Overall, everything went good through the construction process. I was worried when the wall was being knocked down that we would have concrete dust in the food and on store products. Wolverine workers made a smooth transition when they were working on the wall. They covered up every section very tight and were still able to keep the store open for business. They did a great job working around us and our customers.”

According to Project Manager, Chris Nye, “There were several challenges involved in this project including the installation of an underground storm detention system beneath the entire parking lot, and the renovation of the existing store. We had to stay in constant communication with the store staff to make sure we could complete the project and keep our disruption of product accessibility and customer movement to a minimum. All of the store employees were great to work with. If there was a problem, they let us know right away and we did our best to respond as quickly as possible. I especially enjoy working on a project like this one because of the challenges involved in balancing the work necessary to get the job done and the needs and expectations of the customer. The key to the success of a project like this is to have an experienced and talented construction superintendent on site to keep everything moving forward as smoothly as possible. Dave DeWaard was the Wolverine Building superintendent for the Russo’s project and he did a fantastic job. The Wolverine Building Group has some of the most skilled and experienced superintendents in Michigan and that’s why we continue to successfully complete challenging projects like this one, and maintain our reputation for problem solving, innovation, and quality work.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

Lansing, MI – (May 19, 2008) Just six months ago, Fryling Construction announced the proud completion of the Armory Artswalk Lofts in Jackson, Michigan. This historic preservation was unlike any other rehabilitation project Fryling had done before, it was a conversion of the locally prominent 1839 Jackson State Prison into apartment units for a visual arts community. This extraordinary transformation included renovating three historic prison buildings into 62 living units with adjoining workspace studios shared by resident artists, artisans and designers.

The Armory Arts Village is truly a one of a kind venture that Fryling Construction was honored to collaborate in. It is clear why the Armory Artswalk project received the 2008 Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation.

The awards are to recognize the outstanding historic preservation achievements that reflect commitment to preserving Michigan communities. The Michigan Historical Center, part of the State of Michigan’s Department of History, Arts, and Libraries, began the award program in 2003 to appreciate efforts to sustain Michigan’s unique character through preserving the many cultural resources that document Michigan’s history.

“Leveraging and protecting our historic resources is an important component in our ongoing efforts to ensure that Michigan communities are vibrant, interesting places to live, work and play,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (Source: Brian D. Conway, State Historic Preservation Officer).

Seven Awards were granted to historic renovation projects spread from all over the State, more information can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/hal. The nominations were recommended to the governor by the State Historic Preservation Review Board in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, Michigan Historical Center.

Fryling Construction is a full-service construction firm with more than 65 years of experience throughout West and Central Michigan.

Knapp Professional Building is Wrapping Up. Grand Rapids, MI – (May 14, 2008) Drive by 2911 Knapp and see the eye-catching Knapp Professional Building. Wolverine Building Inc. is please to announce the completion of the new Medical Building on the edge of the “Celadon New Town.”

Part of the 22-acre mixed-use natural environment development, the design/build medical office blends the architecture of modern and traditional features to create a timeless facility. The 10,000 square foot two-story conventional steel office building has a Midwestern early 1900’s era design which blends into its unique wetland setting.

According to Dulane Coval, Project Manager for Wolverine Building Inc., “The building envelope uses many natural materials; a mixture of applied stone veneer, wood beams, standing seam roof and other period finishes. The idea is to have a traditional environmentally friendly neighborhood on the original agricultural site.”

Three tenant spaces occupy the building, one of which is still available. Michigan Orthopedics and Sports Medicine P.C. occupy the front half of the ground level. Dr. Kyle Randall proud of the new branch explains, “Our patients and employees are excited about the convenient Knapp’s Corner location. The new facility is situated in a high growth area, which is easy to find and provides plenty of parking.” Achieve Physical Therapy will be adding their new location on the second floor of the new building and plan to move in this fall.

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.

East Lansing, MI (May 12, 2008) – Fryling Construction has been selected as general contractor for the remodel of an 8,000 square foot office space to be converted into apartments. The building owned by Branoff Investment Group of East Lansing will provide more housing for the growing Michigan State University student population.

Formally Woodside Manor, a mixed office and apartment building, will now solely be an apartment complex called Abbott Manor for its location on 910 Abbott Road. Fryling will be renovating the first floor of the building from office space into four new apartments. The current apartments occupying the second and third floor will forgo upgrades to the corridors and stairwells, and the exterior of building will be renovated to a more inviting appearance.

According to project Manager, Bill Carmean, “It is a privilege to be a part of the continuing growth and improvement to the city of East Lansing, and the Abbott Manor project will be a great asset to the community.”

Fryling Construction, a division of Wolverine Building Group, is a Grand Rapids-based general contractor with more than 60 years of experience in the construction industry. Serving clients throughout Western and Central Michigan, Fryling specializes in the construction of multi-unit facilities including apartments, condominiums, mixed-use buildings and senior housing.

East Lansing, MI (April 28, 2008) – Fryling Construction will be introducing a new restaurant to Gaslight Village in East Grand Rapids. Graydon’s Crossing, a popular pub on the Northeast side of town, will be opening a second restaurant and bar in the style of an old fashioned Derby Station.

Known for their cask conditioned brewed ales and traditional English/India menu, Graydon’s Crossing believes it will be a perfect fit for the nostalgic feel of East Grand Rapids. As a design/build project, Fryling Construction is excited to help plan the layout of the Derby-style location. The derby theme comes from the history of the area being a fun attraction in the early 1900’s. Reeds Lake was a popular entertainment spot including a railway, ball park, theater, concert venue, many lakeside resorts, and even a small amusement park with a roller-coaster named the Jack Rabbit Derby Racer. The Gaslight Village still resonates the fun atmosphere today as it welcomes Graydon’s Crossing Derby Station this summer. The build-out project is a fast-track job that is set to be complete by this June.

Fryling Construction, a division of Wolverine Building Group, is a Grand Rapids-based general contractor with more than 60 years of experience in the construction industry. Serving clients throughout Western and Central Michigan, Fryling specializes in the construction of multi-unit facilities including apartments, condominiums, mixed-use buildings and senior housing.

Myrtle Beach, SC (April 25, 2008) - Wolverine Building Inc. has ventured out of State to introduce the energetic restaurant Red Robin to the family fun shore of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Red Robin International hired Wolverine Building Inc. for this fast track job to renovate the former Smokey Bones Restaurant into the exuberant atmosphere of growing Red Robin chain.

Plans are also in progress to build an additional Red Robin in the military town of Jacksonville, North Carolina. Wolverine Building Inc. will be constructing the new restaurant inside a vacant space in Jacksonville Mall, the only regional mall within a fifty mile radius in the growing area. Red Robin will be a perfect fit for a day at the mall with a nearby theater and many stylish shops. Construction is proposed to be complete by July 20th.

Demolition for the Myrtle Beach Red Robin is finished, and remodeling for the 7,000 square foot project is swiftly ongoing. The plans are set to complete by June 20th. The goal is to open the restaurant during the busy summer season on the popular sunny vacation spot of Myrtle Beach.

According to project manager, Dulane Coval, ”My hope is for this to be the start of an exciting fast-paced partnership, my goal is to build a strong long term relationship with this expanding nationwide establishment.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan as well as.

Lansing, MI (April 22, 2008) –The Stadium District is the new addition on Michigan Avenue that will surely grab your attention. The 385 foot-long and 100,000 square-foot development has our State’s capitol in view and Oldsmobile Park directly across the street. Fryling Construction and developer, Gillespie Group are proud to announce the completion of the multi-use building that will welcome more to fun downtown living.

Stadium District is a four-story retail and residential development. The design/build steel building will attract persons of all ages and income levels with the mix of office, retail, condos, and apartments. Over 50 units will be available in a wide variety of square footage, design, and layout. Tenants are currently moving in.

The retail section on the first floor will be welcoming a new Fifth Third Branch, BriarWood Realty, and Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee Co. to downtown Lansing. There are still four open spaces for potential restaurants, retail shops, or offices. The Lansing Chamber of Commerce shares the second floor with apartment units. There are a total of 30 apartment units available on the second and third floors, while the fourth floor will house 20 condominium units.

According to, Fryling Project Manager, Jon Laureto “ I am proud to be a part of the Stadium District construction which will hopefully be the catalyst to transform Downtown Lansing into a living and entertainment destination.”

Fryling Construction, a division of Wolverine Building Group, is a Grand Rapids-based general contractor with more than 60 years of experience in the construction industry. Serving clients throughout Western and Central Michigan, Fryling specializes in the construction of multi-unit facilities including apartments, condominiums, mixed-use buildings and senior housing.

Holland, MI – (March 28, 2008) Wolverine Building, Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of facility improvements for Johnson Controls, located at 1600 S. Washington in Holland.

The JCI South View facility now has a completed roof improvements of over 35,000 square feet of architectural seemed metal roof panel. The panels are radius formed on site to ensure proper configuration from the previous roof surface.

According to project manager, Adam Tuffs, “Johnson Controls was looking for a cost effective solution to repair there existing Kalwall Curve roof, which had been leaking extensively for the past few years. We came up with a solution to seal the existing Kalwall with ice & water shield, and then cover it with an architectural standing seam roof panel. This solution provided JCI with the best possible fix to there water problem, while keeping the project within budget.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing construction services to clients throughout Western and Central Michigan. They specialize in the construction of commercial and industrial facilities, including office, retail, churches, warehouses, and manufacturing buildings.

Grand Rapids, MI (March 26, 2008) – Wolverine Building Inc. has been selected general contractor for the remodel of a 6,370 square feet suite at the Spectrum South Pavilion to make space available for the Area Wide OB/GYN Health Services.

The 10 week remodel is a selective demolition project, where existing doors and hardware will be reused, while new flooring, carpet, and wall coverings will be installed. The challenge will be to fit the old with the new and make a comfortable finished space for the Area Wide OB/GYN to expand their health services to more local women.

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan. .

Lansing, MI (March 24, 2008) - Wolverine Building Inc. has started the expansion and renovation of Crippen, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Mazda, Volvo’s current facility, located at 8300 W. Saginaw in Lansing.

To better service the needs of Crippen’s clients, Wolverine will create a fresh 5,000 square foot Mazda/Volvo new car showroom. GM will expand the existing showroom space and go through a total Buick Pontiac GMC image update program. Six additional service bays will be added to the existing services area for the Mazda/Volvo customers. In addition two existing service bays will be converted into a service write-up for Mazda/Volvo with offices and a waiting area. All building exteriors will receive new metal panels and new up-dated signage. The existing GM showroom will receive a new front entry through a new modern entrance kiosk. The expansion and renovation will be completed in July of 2008.

According to Jim Ziegler, Project Manager for Wolverine, “The new facilities will satisfy the need for separation between Buick/Pontiac/GMC products and the Mazda/Volvo products. The new image for the Buick/Pontiac/GMC dealership brings the facility in line with current GM standards as well as providing a ‘freshened’ exterior and interior for the entire facility.”

Wolverine Building, Inc. is a full-service general contractor with more than 65 years of experience providing exceptional construction services to industrial and commercial clients throughout West and Central Michigan.