Custer | 2021 Year In Review

YEAR IN REVIEW

2021

2021 B A C K to

BETTER Custer has been in the business of creating exceptional interior spaces through design strategy, furniture, and technology for 40 Years.

After a year in quarantine, workplaces reopened to a new reality. While quarantine might have been temporary, the shift in how we have come to work and behave will never look the same.

Throughout 2021, Custer intentionally unlearned old processes, reimagined where we’re going, and transcended what had previously defined interior space.

This year, we not only came back to work, we came BACK TO BETTER.

C E L E B R AT I N G

In February of 2021, our team celebrated forty years of business in the integrated interiors and commercial furnishings industry.

Established by Dave Custer in 1981 as Custer Office Environments­—Custer now serves multiple territories reaching outside of West Michigan as the exclusive dealership of Steelcase furniture. Throughout four decades, our capabilities have expanded to offer interior solutions for education, healthcare, small business, and corporate clients.

Once based wholly in Grand Rapids, our team of experts has now expanded to showroom locations in Holland, Traverse City, Kalamazoo, and Fort Wayne, Indiana—while our core business operations remain headquartered in downtown Grand Rapids at two separate facilities, one on Hall Street and the other on Grandville Avenue.

YEARS

In 2021, we welcomed the community to join us in our new Kalamazoo showroom on the 15th floor of the Exchange Building, and we also unveiled a refreshed Grand Rapids showroom with updated technology, collaborative furniture solutions, and an approachable residential look and feel.

Maintaining strong connections to the communities we serve continues to be a priority for all of us at Custer–thoughtfully partnering with architecture and design firms regionally to deliver the products that fit the vision of the client. A full-service design department has allowed us to internally provide our customers with specialized design services, such as space planning, finish selection, workplace strategy, and change management services.

In our fortieth year, our team was faced with the opportunity to reimagine workspaces and commercial interiors yet again. With businesses returning to both remote and in-person work, our dedicated staff stood ready to guide clients through new ways of working and building connections with clients and employees.

Our team is looking forward to 40 more years of service to our customers, and we thank each and every one of you for playing a role in this incredible milestone by allowing us into your businesses and into your workspaces.

5

2021 YEAR in

REVIEW C O R P O R AT E

6

H E A LT H C A R E

E D U C AT I O N

7

CORPORATE PROJECTS

JW MARRIOT

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

10

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S : • Century Flooring & Cleaning • Steelcase • Rockford Construction

To maintain its well-established standard of excellence in the area’s hospitality industry, JW Marriott Grand Rapids worked closely with Custer’s team of experts to update the hotel’s more high-traffic interior spaces.

Design goals included bringing an awe-factor to the hotel’s common areas and passageways, and more variety to conference rooms and meeting spaces.

Did we mention the flooring? The carpet selection chosen for the lobby, café, and lounge area makes a statement – to say the least.

Natural biophilia and bold, colorful finishes were incorporated into the design of this project to bring a vibrant energy to the space.

C O R P O R AT E

The use of playful, modern, and sleek products and accessories were provided by Custer throughout the 6,000 square foot space, completed over the course of two phases of installation.

11

CATHOLIC CHARITIES WEST MICHIGAN Catholic Charities West Michigan was in search of solutions that could serve a multitude of requirements—from creating an inviting and welcoming space for the public while still providing durability for high traffic areas, to creating functionality for employees.

Custer came to the table with solutions to these requirements by providing multiple different posture and zoning options for staff to select from varying environments based on their preferences.

MUSKEGON, MI

12

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R :

C O R P O R AT E

• Tridonn Construction

13

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

14

COMMUNITY WEST CREDIT UNION As a longtime banking provider to Steelcase, it was important to Community West Credit Union to honor this partnership by prioritizing Steelcase solutions to incorporate into its new building.

Functional, ergonomic furniture to compliment the architecture and design of the building was provided

by Custer.

Several conference rooms to support various postures—executive, standing height, lounge, low collaborative height—sound masking, private offices, departmental suites, common areas, and shared spaces were among the environmental solutions Custer provided to Community West Credit Union through intentional collaborative design.

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

C O R P O R AT E

• Fishbeck • Wolverine Building Group

15

WA R S AW, I N

NEXTREMITY SOLUTIONS

16

Nextremity Solutions, a privately held medical device manufacturer, worked with Custer on their newly developed headquarter building in Warsaw, Indiana.

Open plan workstations replaced the previously occupied private offices for the majority of employees in this new workspace.

Thoughtful design provided by Custer allowed for new enclaves, and more conference rooms and collaboration spaces to be incorporated into the final design for the building.

Found throughout this beautiful new space to accommodate a new way of working for employees are four large conference rooms, more than ten collaboration spaces, four private encalves, and one mothers room.

• Project 22 Designs • Robinson Construction

C O R P O R AT E

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

17

CONNECT ALLEN COUNTY

F O R T WAY N E , I N 18

To suit this customer’s needs, our expert team identified furniture solutions to best fit the budgeting goals for this space, while leveraging the design, functionality, and quality of the customer’s selections.

Thoughtful design planning can be found throughout the space in finishes that compliment the company’s newly released updated branding.

C O R P O R AT E

Solutions our team provided throughout this space include a new reception area, conference rooms, group rooms, employee break room, private offices, and a mothers room.

19

TRAVERSE BAY CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER Supporting the important work that this local non-profit organization brings to the Northern Michigan community was the top priority for the Custer team.

The result is a fresh new space boasting high quality furniture products that would make any person walking through the door feel supported; surrounding visitors with beautiful, comfortable furniture now speaks volumes to the individual’s true worth regardless of the reason(s) they are visiting this important non-profit.

T R A V E R S E C I T Y, M I

20

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

C O R P O R AT E

• Burdco Incorporated

21

HONOR BANK

T R A V E R S E C I T Y, M I

Custer’s Northern Michigan team provided intentional design and furniture throughout the space that would compliment the architecture of this new building.

Throughout the new space are five private offices, a beautiful new conference room, kitchenette, collaborative workspace for employees, and a welcoming waiting area.

A few highlighted furniture solutions that Custer provided in this space are height adjustable desks, personal storage, task seating, a new conference room table, as well as individual filing and storage solutions.

22

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

C O R P O R AT E

• Whiteford Associates • REI Construction Consultants

23

T R A V E R S E C I T Y, M I

24

GREENLEAF TRUST The renovation included furniture solutions provided

by Custer throughout the new space. As a longtime customer of Custer’s, Greenleaf Trust has a standardized design they implement across all of its updated locations.

The architecture of this historic building is complimented with rich furniture fabric and finish tones. Modern furniture solutions were intentionally designed into the space to compliment other modern improvements included in this project.

Updates to the functionality of the interior now boast eight private offices, two conference rooms, a welcoming customer lobby, lounge, plenty of access to natural sunlight, and height adjustable desks for each employee.

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

C O R P O R AT E

• TowerPinkster • CMS Group

25

E-FULFILLMENT SERVICE After a recent update to its branding, eFulfillment was looking for a more updated and agile space for employees to collaborate and work throughout the week.

Custer was able to provide Steelcase solutions that not only beautifully reflect the company’s updated brand and culture, but it also reflected an agile work environment for staff to collaborate and work in space that was open to anyone.

The thoughtful process and design in the space will make for a great place to work for employees–now and in the future.

T R A V E R S E C I T Y, M I

26

27

C O R P O R AT E

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS UNDISCLOSED CUSTOMER

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

28

2021 CORPORATE

SPOT LIGHT

The building’s sleek architecture, and bountiful access to sunlight through large floor-to-ceiling windows provide a poetic backdrop for furniture selections.

C O R P O R AT E

Partnering teams provided vision and specifications for the space, while various environments within the space were executed by Custer’s team–including the majority of the executive offices and suites, and a number of planned ancillary settings throughout all seven floors.

29

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS CONTINUED UNDISCLOSED CUSTOMER

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S : • Visa Design • Eastlake Studios • Rockford Construction • AMDG Architects

30

2021 CORPORATE

SPOT LIGHT

C O R P O R AT E

A cozy library, open collaboration space accessible to all staff, café settings, and outdoor patio solutions were included in addition to interior ancillary and private office settings that were provided and installed by Custer’s team.

31

HEALTHCARE PROJECTS

MARY FREE BED

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

34

Working closely with Enviah, Custer provided furniture solutions to enhance the effectiveness of hoteling and touchdown spaces for hybrid work throughout this newly renovated space.

Custer has worked with Mary Free Bed for many years in executing a set of standards for both products and finishes that will be replicated throughout its facilities creating a unified brand aesthetic not only from department to department, but from building to building.

Mary Free Bed plans to renovate the remainder of their nonclinical office spaces in a similar approach to increase productivity, efficiency and effectively reduce overall costs. The executive and administrative floor will become the template for future spaces completed within the Professional Building.

• CS Erickson • Enviah

H E A LT H C A R E

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

35

BRONSON CANCER CENTER Working closely with Bronson Healthcare’s interior design team, Custer was able to help select and refine furniture solutions for this glowing new interior space to update the patient experience for Bronson Healthcare’s visitors.

Custer provided and installed ancillary furniture solutions throughout three floors, as well as lobbies and infusion bays.

Specific product solutions included throughout the space are medical grade recliners and welcoming lobby furniture, as well as a custom valet station, and a retail store.

KALAMAZOO, MI

36

37

H E A LT H C A R E

HAVEN SPINE AND PAIN

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Specific environments included in this newly updates space include various examination rooms for patient care, a vibrant new reception area boasting plenty access to sunlight for visitors and staff, a staff break room, and a newly upgraded lobby space.

Answer panels, Krug lobby seating, Steelcase products, and Cubicle curtains by J-Tek are products that were intentionally designed into this beautiful new healthcare space.

38

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

H E A LT H C A R E

• VanEck Construction

39

KALAMAZOO, MI

40

HOSPICE CARE OF WEST MICHIGAN Through intentional design planning, lounge areas, enclaves and collaborative settings were agreed upon for this space. The various environment types would ultimately allow employees to choose between different postures throughout their work day.

Throughout the open office spaces, Answer Beam paired with height adjustable workstations were selected to bring variation to desk work.

Collaborative lounge settings, small meeting rooms, and enclaves were designed into the planning for this space—creating quiet spaces for individual work.

Specific environment solutions provided by Custer include a large conference room—featuring the addition of a thirty foot long Enwork conference table— as well as several other smaller enclave spaces.

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

H E A LT H C A R E

• Diekema Hamann • Miller Davis

41

EDUCATION PROJECTS

A D A T O W N S H I P, M I

AMY VAN ANDEL LIBRARY & COMMUNITY CENTER

44

The new Amy Van Andel Library and Community Center was an integral addition to the Ada Village redevelopment project, coined The Envision Ada Plan.

The purpose for facility was designed to serve the area as a library of the future – not only supplying books, but also providing access to digital information, multimedia studios, and spaces that encourage and support an array of learning styles.

Custer provided solutions to support the efficiencies of all spaces within the library – from study rooms and a children’s area, to conference rooms and meeting spaces.

Our team of experts worked closely with the customer and project partners to ensure our proposed product selections fit the aesthetic and function the client sought to achieve.

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

E D U C AT I O N

• Progressive AE • Erhardt Construction

45

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AVIATION

B AT T L E C R E E K , M I

46

The aviation flight sciences program at Western Michigan University’s Battle Creek campus saw an array of upgrades in 2021.

Among the upgrades that Custer provided for this higher education learning space were new focus areas for individual work, classroom settings, cafe space to promote the opportunity to work between classes, and team conference-style rooms to empower collaborative learning.

The newly renovated 15,000 sq ft Aviation Education Center dramatically expands educational opportunities for the College of Aviation and doubles the number of students it can accommodate.

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

E D U C AT I O N

• Western Michigan University

47

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY 3 3 3 M I C H I G A N AV E N U E

Creative use of space allows for additional capacity for Grand Valley State University's healthcare and nursing programs.

Our team designed and installed numerous open collaboration spaces, conference rooms, huddle rooms, faculty offices, an office for the president, and privacy walls throughout this invigorating new space.

The intentional design and furniture solutions found throughout the space compliment the aesthetic and architecture of this newly developed building.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

48

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S :

E D U C AT I O N

• Pioneer Construction

49

CUSTER SHOWROOMS

KALAMAZOO AT THE EXCHANGE BUILDING

KALAMAZOO, MI 52

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S : • Century Flooring & Cleaning • CS Erickson • First Companies • PlazaCorp

In July of 2021, Custer officially opened its doors to the Southwest Michigan community from the fifteenth floor space – complete with beautiful, spanning views of the city.

Custer partnered with PlazaCorp in 2019 to embark on a new showroom space within Kalamazoo’s soon-to-be developed fifteen-floor at The Exchange Building.

Today Custer Workplace Sales Advisors serve Southwest Michigan customers from this beautiful fifteenth floor space with panoramic views overlooking downtown Kalamazoo.

SHOWROOMS

Our Kalamazoo meeting rooms were designed with the community in mind – equipped with cutting-edge technology, inspiring furnishings, and first-class amenities to support any teams next company offsite.

53

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

54

DOWNTOWN, GRAND RAPIDS 217 GRANDVILLE

Having the comforts of home within reach over the course of the last year has changed the way we have gotten used to working day to day. By creating warm, inviting spaces and encouraging a home-like atmosphere within the Phoenix Nest, employees are no longer faced with having to choose between the workplace and their homes.

Users now have the flexibility to adapt to their chosen work style on any given day through multiple solutions found in the space.

Stadium seating was implemented in the living room, providing a diversified line of sight to the collaborative monitor, as well as lounge and standing work postures.

P R O J E C T PA R T N E R S : • Century Flooring & Cleaning • CS Erickson • KLH Custom Homes

SHOWROOMS

Team work is now supported through varying posture settings for users to meet with others comfortably— lounge settings, standing height, classic conference applications.

55

PARTNER FEATURES

F E AT U R E D PA R T N E R

NEW LAKESHORE SHOWROOM Century puts down roots in Holland, MI. In 2021 Century expanded their West Michigan presence! Now open is the latest addition to their locations, a residential flooring showroom located in downtown Holland at 171 College Avenue.

Century is excited to begin serving more residential customers near the lakeshore from this beautiful new space.

HOLLAND, MI

58

F E AT U R E D PA R T N E R

P R OJ E C T F E AT U R E :

GRAND RIVER ASEPTIC MANUFACTURING Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, a leading injectable contract development and manufacturing organization, opens its new 11,000 square foot finishing and warehouse center.

Century’s commercial team provided flooring for the new facility, working alongside other project partners, Visser Brothers Construction, and CS Erickson.

The building, located at 6670 Patterson Ave S.E., is the company’s fourth manufacturing facility and adds an additional 110,000 square feet to GRAM’s growing footprint.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

59

F E AT U R E D PA R T N E R

P R OJ E C T F E AT U R E :

FLURESH As a leader in environmentally controlled facilities, we were excited to join forces with construction Simplified and Grow controlled to help build Fluresh's new 130,000 sq ft renewable cultivation facility Our dedicated experts installed nine centrral monitoring systems that constantly measure light, temperature and humidity, and automatically adjusts to ensure the optimum, ecoconscious environment for each of Fluresh's grow rooms. Our team also designed and installed the building's electrical and lighting systems, both in the showroom and back of house.

Photography by James Fry.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

60

F E AT U R E D PA R T N E R

P R OJ E C T F E AT U R E :

ACRISURE Functioning as an integrated design-build partner, our team conceptualized and implemented a technology-led design for Acrisure's new Headquarters Building. Our experts designed and installed the building's workplace collaboration and communications technologies, audiovisual solutions, and network cabling infrastructure.

Photography by Bill Lindhout.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

61

Special thanks to our photography partner, Carbon Stories, for capturing the project images showcased here.

GRAND RAPIDS • KALAMAZOO • BENTON HARBOR • TRAVERSE CITY & UPPER PENINSULA • FORT WAYNE CUSTERINC.COM • 217 GRANDVILLE AVE SW • GRAND RAPIDS, ΜI 49503 • 616.458.6322 • HELLO@CUSTERINC.COM