Construction on DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health to be completed on schedule

Due to COVID-19, contractors and subcontractors working on campus construction and renovation projects could not perform work for six to eight weeks, but a major project is scheduled to open on time.

Construction of the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health on the Health Campus in downtown Grand Rapids resumed after the governor allowed construction projects to begin again across the state on May 7.

Shannon Sullivan, director of construction at Grand Valley, said once proper protocols and procedures could be established for workers to feel safe coming back to work, contractors returned. He said Pioneer Construction led an effort to discuss the time lost on both projects.

"Pioneer and the subcontractor teams stepped up and will be able to meet the original turnover date of May 2021 for the DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health," said Sullivan. "This is an amazing undertaking for a project of this size."

The five-story health center will help Grand Valley accommodate expanding programs in emerging and growing fields at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The building will include 15 classrooms and 14 interactive laboratories. The Kirkhof College of Nursing will be housed in the building, bringing faculty and students together to accommodate collaborative and interactive learning.

Sullivan said the GVSU/Spectrum Health shared parking ramp stayed on schedule and GVSU turned over 600 parking spaces to Spectrum Health on June 1.

Renovations to Lake Huron Hall by Pioneer Construction were delayed by COVID-19. Karen Ingle, associate vice president for Facilities Planning, said this project had a very aggressive construction schedule before COVID-19 and there is limited ability to make up the time lost. The building is scheduled to open October 5. 

The Little Mac Bridge on the Allendale Campus will open June 22.