Medical Mile/Michigan Street Developments

[GRDadof3]

They're going to town on that retaining wall:

[sparky05]

I just want to confirm those scattered reports we've been hearing that this building is really freakin' big:

And don't forget that there's a lot below ground, too:

And WOO HOO! 500 POSTS!

Edited February 21, 2007 by sparky05

[sparky05]

[sparky05]

Yesterday:

[Veloise]

That's probably the coolest construction cam interface I've ever seen.

Need to reboot their server; Feb 20 was yesterday.

[sparky05]

Need to reboot their server; Feb 20 was yesterday.

No kidding, I was hoping to catch myself walking through that parking lot and taking a picture of the construction cam. That was around 2:00 yesterday. bummer.

[GRDadof3]

Van Andel Institute research agreement reached with Singapore

Scientists from VAI will conduct research in Singapore, and Singapore scientists will conduct research here. I think we're going to be hearing about many more of these over the next couple of years. More details are supposed to be out this afternoon.

[mgreven]

Here's a VAI construction Public Service Announcement for all the UP friends....

If you're on Division headed north and want to get to Michigan, I like to take Crescent up to Bostwick since that little connector ramp is closed. (Plus, Crescent is a cool, curvy street!) DON'T do this in the morning when GRCC is around. I got halfway up Crescent and was stopped in traffic. It didn't move and suddenly I had 6 cars in front of me and 10-12 behind. After traffic didn't move for 5 minutes, I asked a construction worker what the hold up was. He said, "Those ****** all wait to get into the parking ramp until the previous class gets out." I was stuck and it looked like it would be about 15 minutes before the top of the hour. Five minutes later, one person scooted through so I got out, moved barrels and asked people to move their cars so I could get through. WHAT A PAIN!

Hopefully something can be done about that...poor unsuspecting people like me could get caught for 15-25 minutes.

Boy, if I were a GRCC student I'd definately find another way! DASH, bus or walk. I find it funny that people will wait for 20 minutes to park by the door.

[albertaresident]

Boy, if I were a GRCC student I'd definately find another way! DASH, bus or walk. I find it funny that people will wait for 20 minutes to park by the door.

When I went to GRCC, I used to park where the Van Andel Arena now stands, and walk from there. It was free at that time. It was great walking through downtown. I got to know it pretty good in those days. Can't imagine people being so loathe to walk that they'll wait 20 minutes to get into the parkade, never mind nearly as long to get back out.

[egrguy]

Van Andel Institute research agreement reached with Singapore

Scientists from VAI will conduct research in Singapore, and Singapore scientists will conduct research here. I think we're going to be hearing about many more of these over the next couple of years. More details are supposed to be out this afternoon.

I don't think the effects of this should be understated. Deals like this will really put the VAI on a global level, and that will certainly help when it comes to recruitment, winning grants, etc.

[GRDadof3]

Great shots sparky! It is massive. Here are some more from today:

Steel!

You can just barely see the RiverHouse crane in this shot:

You can start to see the curves of the lobby balconies:

A city in transformation!

[gvsusean]

i was leaving class from the DT GVSU campus and i could see the towers peeking out from above the other buildings... it was nice..... how much taller are we talking?

[GRDadof3]

i was leaving class from the DT GVSU campus and i could see the towers peeking out from above the other buildings... it was nice..... how much taller are we talking?

Just a tad higher for Lemmen Holton, and the remainder of the complex, including MSU, look like they are all at the same geographic height.

[rleuthueser]

Nobody seemed to have noticed that we hoisted a 80,000# truss on 2/10...

Sitting in its new home above the future drop-off area entrance off Coit Ave:

First slab on metal deck pour:

Won't be too long before masonry and curtain wall start rolling

[dtown]

Wow, thats a pretty hefty truss.

Cant wait for that curtain wall.

Edited February 24, 2007 by dtown

[tamias6]

Some shots of Health Hill construction from East Bound I-196 I took on my way to my niece's birthday party.

A Crane geek's paradise.

Foreshadowing the immensity to come

[ArsEcclesiae]

When I went to GRCC, I used to park where the Van Andel Arena now stands, and walk from there. It was free at that time. It was great walking through downtown. I got to know it pretty good in those days. Can't imagine people being so loathe to walk that they'll wait 20 minutes to get into the parkade, never mind nearly as long to get back out.

I would park in the Belknapp neighborhood when I attended GRCC and walk across Coit bridge and down Michigan to Bostwick. I always enjoyed the walk (Rainy days were not quite so pleasant...but that's why you dress for the weather) and with all the construction getting underway it was rather exiting...not to mention the fantastic views of the city from Belknapp every morning!

[Allison Slater]

Towers building actually used to look kinda tall there.. not that I'm complaining, of course ;D

[joeDowntown]

I always take bad days off for pictures

I think this church is going to look very cool in contrast to the new buildings building up around it.

If all of the RDV buildings are close to the size of the new Cancer Center, this development is going to look enormous.

Joe

[joeDowntown]

Al and Sons Garage is now gone. The apartment building got a better view out of the deal (somebody needs to buy it and rehab it).

Joe

[joeDowntown]

There was a lot of excavating going on today at the new Children's hospital.

Joe

[sparky05]

There was a lot of excavating going on today at the new Children's hospital.

I noticed a little bit of that when I took that pano above yours - there was a little hole forming in the middle of that lot.

[sparky05]

I always take bad days off for pictures

I think this church is going to look very cool in contrast to the new buildings building up around it.

THAT is a great shot, joe. Think Trinity Church in Manhattan...

[designcritic]

If all of the RDV buildings are close to the size of the new Cancer Center, this development is going to look enormous.

Joe

The first floors of the other buildings start two levels below that of the LHCP. Thus, even though all of the buildings are roughly the same height the LHCP will appear two stories taller.

[beergeek]

The first floors of the other buildings start two levels below that of the LHCP. Thus, even though all of the buildings are roughly the same height the LHCP will appear two stories taller.

Do you mean "start 2 levels below" because of the steep grade of Michigan hill, or that 2 floors' worth of offices will be underground?