www.lsj.com
2G • Monday, April 18, 2011 • Lansing State Journal
“To watch it transform into the office building it is right now is amazing. It’s so exciting to be a part of that. I like the shorter walls, you have more light coming in.”
“It’s like you’re working in a living piece of architectural art. The incoming natural light ... it’s fantastic.” Scott Burgess
community relations specialist
Patty Herbert
senior executive assistant
It’s official: Accident Fund moves to its new location Transformation of former power plant complete MELISSA DOMSIC mdomsic@lsj.com
More than 70 years ago, as Lansing emerged from the Great Depression, workers built the Ottawa Power Station for the Lansing Board of Water & Light. Now, as the city recovers from what some call the Great Recession, crews have finished work on the latest chapter in the power plant’s history. The iconic art deco building is part of the new headquarters for Accident Fund Holdings Inc. and its main business, Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America. Features of the building’s industrial past are preserved in the modern office headquarters — from a crane used to transport coal to large steel beams used to support the 176-foot-tall structure. “It’s just a really nice balance between keeping track of our history, but then also looking towards the company that we are today,” said Liz Haar, president and CEO of Accident Fund Holdings Inc. The workers’ compensation insurer, owned by Detroit’s Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, recently completed its $182 million redevelopment of the power station into its 334,000-square-foot headquarters. Accident Fund employs 650 in Lansing and plans to hire 500 workers over the next 10 years. The massive redevelopment project has been in the works for about five years. Actual construction at Grand Avenue and Ottawa Street began in October 2008. “When you take a look at this corridor and when you take a look at what’s around us and you think back to 10 years ago or 15 years ago how much things have changed, how far Lansing has come, I’m really proud to be a part of that,” Haar said. A complex package of federal, state and local tax incentives and grants helped fund the project. Among them: a roughly $10 million state business tax credit, more than $33 million in state and local property tax capture, and a Renaissance Zone that exempts most state and local taxes on the site for 15 years. “It shows what we can all do when we’re all pulling in the same direction,” said Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. Bernero said the project’s sig-
ROD SANFORD/Lansing State Journal
Back in use: The former Lansing Board of Water & Light Ottawa Power Station stopped producing electricity in 1992. Now, it’s part of the world headquarters for Accident Fund Holdings Co. and its main business, Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America. nificance is only underscored by the area’s economic challenges. “It’s transformational,” he said. “We think it’ll be catalytic to continue progress on the riverfront.” Lansing-based Christman Co. oversaw the project which involved removing power plant components, constructing additional floors within the existing structure, building a 105,000-square-foot office addition, removing one parking deck and constructing a 1,005-space parking ramp — all while preserving historical features and using sustainable building techniques. “About 2 1/2 years ago ... myself and some of my partners were standing in this old forgotten power plant, full of rusting steel and broken windows, leaking water, dead pigeons all over the place, and we contemplated what we had just committed our company to accomplish,” Christman CEO Steve Roznowski said. But with the help of 118 contractors and suppliers who put in Day of celebration: Dozens attended the ceremonial opening of the Accident Fund building, which will house 650 nearly 1 million worker hours, the workers. “It was obviously a lot of pride and some relief in having things done successfully, but a little sadness to have it all be over,” said Steve Roznowski, CEO of Christman Co. which oversaw the project. job was completed.
SPECIAL SECTION CELEBRATES DEFINING MOMENT FOR LANSING
LJ-0100085012
The Lansing State Journal and LSJ Media recognize the significance of the Accident Fund’s redevelopment of the former Board of Water & Light Ottawa Power Station. The insurance company’s world
headquarters promises to be the cornerstone of a vibrant downtown, bringing more than 650 workers to the riverfront. As we eagerly await the next steps in Lansing’s revitalization, we wanted to take this oppor-
tunity to celebrate the Accident Fund project. In this special section you’ll find information about the company, its history in Lansing, the history of the Ottawa Power Station, an interview with Accident Fund CEO
Liz Haar and plenty of photos documenting the building’s transformation. Enjoy. Brian Priester President and Publisher LSJ Media
www.lsj.com
LJ-0100086167
Lansing State Journal • Monday, April 18, 2011 • 3G
www.lsj.com
4G • Monday, April 18, 2011 • Lansing State Journal
“It was really kind of cool to know that we’re taking it from something that was so unusable and that we’ve turned it into something that is a beautiful office space.”
“I tell everybody already how fantastic it is to work here. Now that I’ve seen the headquarters, I didn’t think it could get any better. It’s amazing how they’ve kept the integrity of the old and it’s all modern at the same time”
Bridget Barratt
project and portfolio associate
Vanessa Schoals trainer
Accident Fund building offers unique features
Mix of old and new
w The sixth floor, where the Accident Fund Holdings Inc. board
The old crane operator’s door is part of the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s huge former crane and pulley system still visible as part of the new Accident Fund headquarters.
of directors meets, features a wall that displays information about the history of the insurer and the history of the power station. The floor also has an outdoor deck with a view of the river.
w The Accident Fund headquarters consists of two buildings
— the former Ottawa Street Power Station and a new four-story glass and brick structure — connected by a four-story glass atrium.
New office features
Historic features
w A large training center will allow the company
w The crane that brought coal into the
to expand its training options.
Ottawa Power Station to fuel the power plant has been preserved, occupying space on the second, third and fourth floors. w The lobby where customers paid their utility bills when the power plant was in operation has been restored to its original art deco design, including the restoration of several steel doors. w The original glazed brick that lines the power plant’s former turbine hall has been fully restored.
w A fitness center with 16 pieces of equipment,
locker rooms and a fitness studio where a variety of classes will be offered to employees. w A spacious cafeteria overlooks the Grand River, featuring indoor and outdoor patio seating and healthy vending options. Source: Accident Fund Photos: Rod Sanford/Lansing State Journal
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Lansing Economic Area Partnership (Leap,Inc.) would like to thank Accident Fund Holdings, Inc. and Liz Haar for their continued support. We also recognize Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and The Christman Company for their brilliant execution of this project to revitalize Greater Lansing.
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Congratulations to Accident Fund Holdings, Inc. on their move to a “grand” location along the mighty Gr Grand River!
Congratulations LJ-0100086403
from the LJ-0100086572
www.lsj.com
Lansing State Journal • Monday, April 18, 2011 • 5G
“We have more choices as far as the vending. It looks like we’re going to have a lot more microwaves, so there won’t be as long a wait for microwaving anything you bring from home.”
“I’m excited because I have a window view and it’s actually of the city of Lansing. You’ll see the same people, and you’ll do the work, but you’re excited about the environment.”
Tim Bowen
Shelly Willoughby
business systems analyst
print center technician
A chat with the CEO company, Accident Fund Holdings Inc. to oversee mdomsic@lsj.com four subsidiaries. Will that move add to your loLiz Haar got her start in cal workforce? the insurance business as a We have two sets of Lannumber-cruncher. sing-based employees. We It began as just a job, but have people that work for turned into a career. After working as an actu- the holding company that do ary for Michigan Millers Mu- centralized functions for all tual and Citizens Insurance, of our operations across the country and then we have Haar became chief actuary for Accident Fund Insurance the original Accident Fund Insurance group. Co. of America in 1997. The corporate or holding Since taking over as CEO company ... team, we do anin 2005, Haar has led the ticipate growth in that area Lansing-based company as they continue to take on through its national exresponsibilities for all four pansion and headquarentities that we have. The ters project. Accident Fund Hold- areas in that group as an example would be our fiings Inc. is now the nance area, our information ninth largest workers’ technology area, human recompensation insurer sources, those corporatein the country. type functions. Does Accident What are your expecFund still plan to hire 500 workers in tations for growth within Lansing in the next the subsidiaries? We have four insurance 10 years? entities, each with a unique The long-term niche market. growth plans really haven’t changed We have the Accident Fund, which goes after what very much. we call mid-market type As everybody knows, the economy business. As small businesses grow across the country, has been a little we do see that as an ecodown the last counomic opportunity. ple years. Workers’ We also have two other compensation is significantly affected by entities that focus more on larger, more complex risk. that. United Heartland ... is an exOur job is to help cellent service provider to businesses and when health care entities — nursthere are either fewer businesses or business- ing homes, hospitals, and we see significant growth in that. es have fewer employThird Coast Underwriters, ees, that has an impact which is one of our newer on our overall volume. entities, also has target marBut our strategies are still being effective. We’re kets where we expect ecostill successful throughout nomic growth. Clean energy as being an example of that. the country, so long-term CompWest, while Califorwe really don’t see that nia, which is their largest changing even though it’s state, has also been particubeen a little stalled for the larly hard hit by the econolast couple of years. In 2009, company lead- my, we also see some signs of potentially rebounding. ers formed a parent
MELISSA DOMSIC
Liz Haar
w Occupation: President and CEO, Accident Fund Holdings Inc. w Age: 45
w Residence: Howell
w Experience: Actuary at Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Co. and Citizens Insurance Company of
America; several executive positions at Accident Fund; became president and CEO at Accident Fund in 2005. w Education: Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan-Dearborn w Family: Husband, Rob; three children
So, we expect some growth from there as well, probably there a little slower than the others. What makes the new headquarters unique? Everywhere you walk through the building ... you’ll see a mix of the modern and the historic. It’s just a really nice balance between keeping track of our history but then also looking towards the company that we are today. The other thing that this power plant did is it gave us this really nice open space which brings in a lot of light. It’s very conducive to employee collaboration. As you walk through the building, you’re going to see a lot of spots that we have what we just call soft meeting space or huddle space, where if you need to get a quick group of people together, you don’t have to go through the bureaucracy of finding a meeting room and getting it scheduled. Will you hold any community events on the sixth floor outdoor patio? We’ll definitely hold employee and customer events. We have already been approached by a number of community events to use that space. We’re very supportive of the community and we’ll consider all of those. We can’t promise though that we can accommodate everybody, but it is something where we’re going to be very open-minded and recognize that this is a beautiful space for the Lansing area. How has the community feedback been on the headquarters project? The amount that the community has embraced this and the amount of positive feedback that we’ve received, it really makes a big difference and it’s been very special.
cooley.edu
Photography: Ike Lea
Welcome Home
Thanks For Supporting Lansing
Thanks for allowing us to be part of your vision. Your friends at
Knowledge. Skills. Ethics.
Accident Fund Company of America
The insurance industry is an enormous economic force in the Lansing region and responsible for thousands of jobs in the region, and expected to grow even more in the future. Cooley offers a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Insurance Law, one of the few Insurance Law programs in the nation. Find out more at cooley.edu/insurance, or contact Cathy J. McCollum, Cooley Director Graduate & Extended Programs (517) 371-5140, ext. 2703
Professor Lisa DeMoss, Cooley Director Graduate Insurance Program (517) 371-5140, ext. 2821
Thomas M.Cooley Law School is committed to a fair and objective admissions policy.Subject to space limitations,Cooley offers the opportunity for legal education to all qualified applicants. Cooley abides by all federal and state laws against discrimination. In addition, Cooley abides by American Bar Association Standard 211(a), which provides that “a law school shall foster and maintain equality of opportunity in legal education, including employment of faculty and staff, without discrimination or segregation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.”
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6G • Monday, April 18, 2011 • Lansing State Journal
TO
Electricity Insurance FROM
THE LIFE OF A POWER PLANT
Dismantling history: In 2008, workers removed the letters marking the Board of Water & Light building. The smokestack also was dismantled as the transformation from power station to insurance headquarters got under way.
In the beginning: This photo of the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Ottawa Power Station was taken in 1938, likely from the Michigan Avenue bridge.
Near the end of production: Above, the interior of the Ottawa Power Station in 1989, three years before it stopped producing electricity. The plant sat vacant for years before the Accident Fund decided to redevelop the building as part of its world headquarters.
ROD SANFORD/Lansing State Journal
Riverfront digs: The transformation is complete in late March, with 650 workers moving in in April. The contractors tried to maintain the history of the building while adding in new features, too.
Preserving the past: Many of the original features of the Ottawa Power Station can be found in the new Accident Fund headquarters. The lobby has been restored to its art deco design, including the restoration of the steel doors. Also preserved was the huge crane used to bring coal into the plant.
In disrepair: Once the building was no longer in use, it became a mess of broken windows, rusting steel and dead pigeons. In 1998, the Board of Water & Light spent $3 million to clean up some environmental hazards and remove equipment. The goal: to make the behemoth more marketable.
ROD SANFORD/Lansing State Journal
Open for business: A crisp, clean layout greets workers at the new Accident Fund Holdings, Inc., headquarters. The former power plant, coupled with a new addition to the north, will house 650 workers immediately, with the hopes of adding 500 over the next 10 years.
Lansing State Journal file photos
HISTORY OF THE ICONIC POWER STATION ON LANSING’S GRAND RIVER Key events in the history of the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Ottawa Power Station, which has been transformed into part of a headquarters for Accident Fund Holdings Co. and Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America. w 1940 — The Ottawa Power Station is dedicated at Ottawa Street and Grand Avenue, along the Grand River. Its black granite base dissolves upward into brickwork in reds that lighten to orange and yellow, symbolizing coal combustion. w 1950 — Lansing Board of Water & Light expands its power capacity with more generators and boilers,
boosting it from 31.5 megawatts to 81.5 megawatts.
transform the Ottawa Power Station into a hotel and entertainment complex that would involve Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Sony Corp. The board said w 1995 — BWL seeks redevelopment plans. The winner Coates’ funding and partners had changed since the is General Motors Corp., which wants to relocate its plan was originally submitted. Rochester Hills Oldsmobile training facility to the w A group of mid-Michigan environmentalists, artists Ottawa site. and downtown supporters propose converting Ottawa w 1997 — After BWL supports GM’s redevelopment plan, Power Station into a freshwater research and the automaker switches gears, deciding instead to education aquarium. The plan never made it past the focus on consolidating its operations in downtown drawing board. Detroit, where its headquarters is located. w To make the building more marketable, BWL spends w 1998 — BWL’s board unanimously rejects Chicago $3 million to clean up some environmental hazards, developer Thomas Coates’ $57 million plan to w 1992 — BWL stops electric production at the plant.
such as asbestos, and remove equipment.
$800,000 the two nonprofits can commit. As part of the plan, Convergency Centers Corp. also would have built a telecom hotel in another portion so e-commerce proposes an $80 million urban development called businesses could house file servers and other “Power Tower” that would include cinemas, clubs, equipment, and Lansing developer H&H Inc. would restaurants, hotel rooms, shops and offices. It would have used the top floor for an upscale restaurant or incorporate public and private funding. The proposal office space. didn’t go anywhere. w 2002-07 — Several other proposals to redevelop the w 2000 — BWL builds a $30 million chilled-water plant Power Station come and go, including one calling for a to provide air conditioning to downtown offices. casino and another to put state offices in the building. w 2001 — The Oldsmobile/GM Heritage Center and the w 2007 — Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America R.E. Olds Museum consider merging to buy some of the announces plans to move its national headquarters Power Station, but BWL wants more than the w 1999 — Columbus, Ohio-based Steiner and Associates
into the power plant.
w The 150-foot smokestack atop the plant comes down.
w 2008 — Crews start work on a new $20 million water
chiller plant at the corner of Allegan and Pine streets so BWL can dismantle the old one located in the Power Station as part of the Accident Fund project. w Lansing-based Christman Co. begins work on the new Accident Fund headquarters. w Demolition worker Samuel Lowe dies after falling 100 to 110 feet down an open vertical shaft in the power station. w 2009 — Carleton-based subcontractor Homrich Inc. is
fined $10,500 for two safety violations, including one related to the worker fatality. w Accident Fund struggles to secure financing for the parking structure planned for the headquarters. w Crews raze part of a city parking structure over Grand Avenue to make room for the headquarters project. w BWL dedicates its new chiller plant in downtown Lansing. w Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Detroit insurer that owns Accident Fund, announces it will move about 250 Lansing-area employees into the worker’s compensation offices on Capitol Avenue once the new
headquarters is finished. It later revises that number to nearly 300 employees. w Accident Fund Holdings Inc. is formed as the holding company for Accident Fund of America Co. and three other insurance subsidiaries. w 2010 — Christman and Accident Fund work with the Lansing Economic Development Corp. to issue about $31 million taxable bonds for the parking deck. w 2011 — Accident Fund celebrates the completion of its headquarters in March. Employees begin moving to the new office in April. —LSJ research
www.lsj.com
8G • Monday, April 18, 2011 • Lansing State Journal
What’s next on the development front? w Marketplace: Gillespie Group is Accident Fund Holdings Inc.’s plans to move nearly 300 Lansing-area employees from a working on floor plans for an headquarters is the newest site on South Creyts Road in 80- to 85-unit development to grace the residential downtown Lansing skyline. Delta Township into Accident building for the Fund’s former 130,000-squareBut more is on the way. Here are former City foot home office at 232 S. Capitol some other upcoming projects: Ave. They should be settled in by Market site w REO Town power plant: The September, Blue Cross President near the corner Lansing Board of Water & Light and CEO Dan Loepp said. of Cedar and plans to build a $182 million Shiawassee natural gas-powered electric and w Knapp’s building: East Lansing Gillespie streets. The developer Eyde Co. wants to turn steam generation plant in REO East the former Knapp’s department Town, moving 180 workers to the Lansing-based developer, headed store at the corner of Washington district south of downtown by Pat Gillespie, hopes to break Square and Washtenaw Street Lansing. The public utility plans to ground later this year and complete into a building containing construct an eight-story, the $6.5 million to $8.5 million retailers, office space, a business 46,500-square-foot plant building by spring 2013. Office and incubator, high-end apartments adjacent to the former Grand commercial buildings would be and underground parking. The Trunk Western Railroad Depot on added depending on demand. overall cost, including the value Washington Avenue. The depot w of the land and historic building, Ballpark North: Gillespie also will be restored and house office is $36.4 million. Eyde hopes to has proposed another mixed-use and meeting space. Construction start preliminary work in the next complex for the property north of is slated to begin in June and the Cooley Law School Stadium, plant should on-line by early 2013. couple of months and complete though details have not been construction by late 2012 or early w Former Accident Fund Lansing State Journal file photo 2013. But the project hinges on unveiled. Construction would headquarters: Starting in Redevelopment in sight? The Eyde Co. has plans to redevelop the Knapp’s building to include office begin after Marketplace. several factors coming together mid-July, Detroit insurer Blue in a complex financing package. — Melissa Domsic and retail space and high-end apartments. The project hinges on a complex financing deal. Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
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Lansing State Journal • Monday, April 18, 2011 • 9G
“This was a coal-fired power plant and we’re trying to turn it into a professional office complex. So, when you came in 2 1/2 years ago trying to envision how this was going to turn into what you see today, it seemed like that wasn’t … possible.”
“We have a workout facility that’s going to be great. I look forward to taking some classes.” LouAnn Gill
agency relations technician
Robert Saxton project manager
ALIVE AGAIN
Long dormant plant buzzing with activity MELISSA DOMSIC mdomsic@lsj.com
The Ottawa Power Station has been part of downtown Lansing’s skyline for more than seven decades. A creation of the Lansing Board of Water & Light, the plant started out as the power plant its name implies. Now, after sitting largely dormant for nearly two decades, the station is about to enjoy new life as part of the headquarters for Accident Fund Holdings Inc. and its main business, Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America. “I’m overjoyed for the city,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Development Corp. “Especially in this time, the symbol of that building being one of hope and of our city being able to come together and do the impossible is a real indication about our hopeful future.” BWL used proceeds from electric sales to build the original $4 million plant, dedicated in 1940. Nine years later, the public utility built an addition to double the building’s length. In 1950, it upgraded the power capacity from 31.5 megawatts to 81.5 megawatts. Machinery inside the iconic art deco building supplied power to the Lansing area for more than half a century before ending electric production in 1992.
ROD SANFORD/Lansing State Journal
New resident: Accident Fund’s national headquarters is now open for business on Grand Avenue. Several groups came forward with plans to redevelop the site — from a General Motors Corp. training facility to an entertainment venue involving NBA superstar and Lansing native Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Sony Corp. — but nothing worked out. “Everybody seemed to have their own idea of what it should be. It speaks to the iconic nature of the building,” said Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. In 2000, BWL built a chilled-water plant in the basement, still hoping for someone to step forward and redevelop the rest of the building. Finally, after several
more proposals fizzled, Accident Fund announced in 2007 that it would move its corporate headquarters to the historic building. There were hurdles along the way, including securing legislation that would give the insurer access to certain tax incentive programs. “It seemed as though the city was this close to saying we can’t do it, it’s too big, it’s going to be too expensive,” said Mark Nixon, BWL spokesman. “To the BWL and all the people that work there, it is truly a renaissance, the likes of Lansing State Journal file photo which we just have not Changing the skyline: The iconic smokestack was removed from the former Ottawa Power Station seen and probably never will again in our lifetime.” in 2008 in preparation of its rebirth as part of Accident Fund’s headquarters.
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By the numbers
$182 million project cost
334,000
square feet in headquarters
1,005
spaces in the six-story parking ramp
1,630
tons of steel used in the headquarters
11
miles of plumbing
8
miles of audio/visual cable
3,755
gallons of paint
13,800
sheets of drywall
96.8
percent of construction waste diverted from landfills
75
percent of existing walls, floor and roof maintained in project
On the project
ROD SANFORD/Lansing State Journal
Lansing-based Christman Co. oversaw the Accident Fund headquarters project, which involved nearly 120 contractors and suppliers. The following companies provided architectural and engineering services: w Project architect of record: St. Louis-based HOK w Historic preservation architect: Quinn Evans Architects w Landscape/planning architect: TowerPinkster w Structural, mechanical and electrical conceptual engineering: ARUP w Mechanical and electrical engineer of record: TowerPinkster w Civil engineer: Fleis & Vandenbrink w Parking deck architect/engineer of record: Carl Walker w Design consultant on fixture, furnishings and equipment: MAYOTTEgroup Architects
Major undertaking: The transformation of the Ottawa Power Station and the addition to the north was started in 2008.
“The symbol of that building being one of hope and of our city being able to come together and do the impossible is a real indication about our hopeful future.” Bob Trezise
president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Development Corp.
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Stephen B. Shook President
219 E. Lawrence Ave., Charlotte, Michigan 48813 (517) 543-1740 / Fax: (517) 543-5911 www.russellschrader.com E-mail: stephenshook@russellschrader.com
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Lansing State Journal • Monday, April 18, 2011 • 11G
ROD SANFORD/Lansing State Journal
Open for business: The Accident Fund in April moved into its new headquarters on Grand Avenue in Lansing. Celebrating the moment are Daniel Loepp, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan CEO (left); Liz Haar, president and CEO of Accident Fund Holdings Inc., and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.
The Accident Fund: What is it? Accident Fund has a history dating back nearly a century. But where did the 99-year-old company come from and what does it and its 1,035 workers do? The Lansing-based company focuses on workers’ compensation insurance, covering an employer’s costs when a worker injured on the job files a claim for wage replacement, medical coverage and other benefits. It has 650 employees in Lansing. Accident Fund Holdings Inc. is the Lansing holding company that oversees four subsidiaries: Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America in Lansing; United Heartland Inc. in New Berlin, Wis.; CompWest Insurance Co. in San Francisco; and Third Coast Underwriters in Chicago. The subsidiaries offer coverage in different parts of the country to companies ranging from small businesses to large construction concerns. Accident Fund was established in 1912 by the state of Michigan when the state’s first workers’ disability compensation law was passed. The fund was part of the state treasury and was operated by Michigan business owners. In 1976, Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley ruled Accident Fund was a state agency and its employees were civil servants. His ruling was upheld in court in the 1980s and the state took control of the organization in 1990 and made it part of the Department of Commerce. In 1993, Gov. John Engler authorized the privatization of Accident Fund. A year later, Detroit-based Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan bought the company and still owns it. — Melissa Domsic
Take a look: The windows throughout the Accident Fund’s headquarters allow for stunning views of Lansing’s downtown, including the Grand River, Boji Tower and the Capitol. ROD SANFORD Lansing State Journal
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Congratulations ON THE REBIRTH OF A LANSING LANDMARK!
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12G • Monday, April 18, 2011 • Lansing State Journal
Daniel J. Loepp, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Senate Bob Trezise, Lansing Economic Development Corporation Rep. Joan Bauer, Michigan House of Representatives Michael Finney, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Powering Lansing, yet again.
Robert McKay, State Historic Preservation Office Elisabeth Knibbe, Quinn Evans Architects Michael Quinn, Quinn Evans Architects
The greater Lansing community congratulates Accident Fund Holdings, Inc. for reinvigorating downtown Lansing and the waterfront with the move of their national headquarters to the renovated Ottawa Street Power Station.
Nicki Badgero, MAYOTTEgroup Architects Pat Gillespie, The Gillespie Group James Cash, Christman Capital Development Company
By preserving this historic building, restoring the riverfront in downtown and committing to a long-term presence for its employees in downtown Lansing, Accident Fund is creating a healthier future for Michigan’s capital city.
Lansing Economic Area Partnership (Leap), Inc.
In addition, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s commitment to move its Lansing workforce into Accident Fund’s former headquarters on Capitol Avenue means that the Blues enterprise will have several hundred employees in the heart of a vibrant and growing urban setting.
Steve Roznowski, The Christman Company
Doug Stites, Capital Area Michigan Works Sandy Draggoo, Capital Area Transportation Authority Dennis Fliehman, Capital Region Community Foundation Mayor Vic Loomis, Jr., City of East Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, City of Lansing Chuck Clark, Clark Construction Kellie Dean, Dean Transportation Stuart Goodrich, Delhi Township Ken Fletcher, Delta Township
Investing in our cities is vital to the future of our state. And this development is a shining example of commitment to our urban centers.
Adam Havey, Emergent BioDefense Operations Steve Curran, Harvest Creative Services Gordon Mackay, Indian Trails Incorporated Mary Lannoye, Ingham County Controller/Administrator
Congratulations, and see you downtown!
John Brown, Jackson National Life Insurance Company J. Peter Lark, Lansing Board of Water and Light Brent Knight, Lansing Community College Denyse Ferguson, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (Leap) Tim Daman, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Brian Priester, Lansing State Journal Jack Davis, Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting Stacie Behler, Meijer, Inc. Susan McGillicuddy, Meridian Charter Township Lou Anna K. Simon, Michigan State University Pat McPharlin, MSU Federal Credit Union Dennis Pace, Pace & Partners Steve Alexander, PNC Bank Steve Webster, Prima Civitas Foundation Andrew Henry, Red Cedar Solutions Group Dennis Swan, Sparrow Health Systems
bcbsm.com
Leading Michigan to a healthier future.
SM
John Sztykiel, Spartan Motors Don LeDuc, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is a nonprofit corporation and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
LJ-0100085349
Jeff Wesley, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK