Visbeen Associates, ARCHITECTS

MoDiv is a hit!

2012-01-30T10:26:00.006-05:00

People are talking and MoDiv is a hit! Check out the recent press and photos of MoDiv and it's retailers...

The Grand Rapids Press on MoDiv:

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/01/retail_incubator_modiv_in_down.html

Grand Opening Ceremony/Reception Photos:

http://www.stellaflysocialmedia.com/archives/6274

Retailer Wolverine Worldwide:

http://downtowngr.org/people-profile.php?profile_id=47

Retailer Chai Boutique:

http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/innovationnews/0126chai.aspx

Retailer Sofia Bella:

http://mychannel957.com/top-5-local-stores-for-all-things-baby/

Eight West on MoDiv:

Welcome to MoDiv: woodtv.com

GRNow.com on MoDiv:

New Brooklyn Museum Shop to Open April 4, 2012

2012-01-26T10:25:00.004-05:00

Our design of the new Brooklyn Museum Shop is set to open Wednesday, April 4 and we are thrilled! Read this article published about it yesterday on BroadwayWorld.com.

New Brooklyn Museum Shop to Open 4/4

Tuesday, January 24, 2012; Posted: 01:01 PM - by BWW News Desk

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A completely new, significantly larger Brooklyn Museum Shop, designed by the award-winning architectural firm Visbeen Associates, Inc. is opening Wednesday April 4, 2012, in space previously devoted to temporary exhibitions. At 4,150 square feet, the new shop is 1,600 square feet larger than the shop it replaces. The store is part of a multiphase transformation of much of the Museum's first floor designed by Ennead Architects that has already resulted in an extensive renovation of the Museum's historic Great Hall and the creation of a major new exhibition space.
"The major goals of the new design for the first floor of the Museum have been to create a more coherent visitor experience, larger footprints for the Museum's shop, restaurant, and exhibition galleries, and space to create a remarkable installation of major works from the Museum's Permanent Collections," comments Museum Director Arnold L. Lehman.

"The design for the new Museum Shop has created a significantly enhanced shopping environment for our visitors along with an exciting new approach to merchandising. The shop will offer a fresh selection of unique items related to the world cultures represented in the Museum's rich Permanent Collection. An important feature will be products from both established as well as emerging Brooklyn designers and artisans," states Vice Director of Merchandising Sallie Stutz.

The newly created store will be organized around an arc shape that will be reflected in a curved jewelry counter in the center that forms the focal point of the space and will be echoed in a coffered ceiling containing recessed lighting. Two light fixtures, created by Brooklyn artist David Weeks, will be focal points of the design. The shop will feature 225 linear feet of lightly stained oak casework with metal fittings, with additional free standing fixtures in which merchandise will be displayed.

The new space, along the east side of the front façade of the building, was originally built in 1904 and is one of the oldest sections in the nearly 600,000-square-foot landmark building designed by McKim, Mead, & White. A wider entrance to the shop from the Lobby will provide greater visual access to the Great Hall, assisting circulation, and a rear entrance will connect it to planned temporary exhibition galleries.

One of the first in a museum in the United States, the Brooklyn Museum Shop began in 1935 as a sales desk offering publications, postcards, and photographs of objects in the Museum's collections. In 1954 it evolved into a Gallery Shop that specialized in toys and original folk art and crafts from around the world, as well as objects related to special exhibitions. In 1963-64, the Museum Shop produced the first shopping bag created by a museum, featuring a four-color graphic.

Following the April opening of the Museum Shop, the next phase of the first-floor transformation, scheduled for completion in late summer of 2012, will include a new Museum restaurant and cafe, a bar, and an outdoor dining terrace, all planned to be opened for lunch and dinner. The dining room will also accommodate special functions. Casual dining areas will overlook the Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden. There will be direct access to the various dining areas and bar from the Museum's 350-car parking lot.

The final phase of the first-floor renovation will transform space that has been occupied by the current Museum Café into special exhibition galleries that will add 50 percent more floor space to the previous temporary exhibition gallery, the Robert E. Blum Gallery.

The first-floor renovation continues a major redesign of the Museum's ground level that began in 2004 with the opening of the Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, the Ennead-designed and critically acclaimed front entrance, as well as the renovated lobby, newly created front plaza and South Entrance, and expanded parking facilities.

Major support for the Museum's extensive first floor renovation project has been provided by the City of New York through the Department of Cultural Affairs and the City Council.

Generous support has also been provided by Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin, Arline and Norman M. Feinberg, and Lisa and Dick Cashin.

Room Guide: Kid's Spaces

2012-01-23T10:00:00.004-05:00

"If I could see the world

through the eyes of a child

smiling faces would greet me all the while.

Like a lovely work of art,

it would warm my weary heart

just to see through the eyes of a child"

~ Patsy Cline, "If I could see the world"

Some of the most enjoyable places we get to design are children's spaces in the home, because it means that we get to see the world through a kid's eyes. These are spaces where caution can be thrown to the wind and imaginations can run wild. Here are a few things to keep in mind...

1. Let them be who they are: A kid's space can be an extension of who they are, what they like, and what their passions are. Make their room an environment that encourages their creativity and interests. That may mean redecorating in a few years if their passions change, but hey, that will just give you the opportunity to try a new design!

This playroom gives the grandchildren of this household a place to be who they are, with space to play and areas for imagining.

The sky's the limit in this aeronautical themed room.

A room fit for a little princess, complete with canopies and a whimsical starry night scene.

Yes, a teenager lives in this pad, fit with a dj turn station, hanging bunk beds for slumber parties and interchangeable posters adorning the walls.

These parents have a gamer on their hands!

This room's teenage inhabitant can literally "hang" out in her room, display her awards and photos and enjoy the psychedelic colors and decor of her space.

2. Embrace the outdoors: Is your child an avid outdoorsman? Embrace it! Why not bring the outdoors in?

Do you live in the city, but have a child that belongs on a farm? No problem! This barn-themed room leaves a place to study, watch TV (hidden at the top of the silo) and house the play animals for your little farmer.

Inside the barn, you will find original murals done by the kiddos themselves! A great way to let their artistic talents run free.

Does your child love outdoor playhouses? Well they can make a great home for your child's bed, complete with a loft above for playspace.

This bedroom feels like sleeping in the woods, minus the bugs, dirt and creatures!

3. To share or not to share: Ah, the age old question of families with multiple children. Here are some ways your kids can share without having to share too much.

Half walls between the beds create separate spaces for each child to call their own while the overhead loft is a common play area.

The above two photos show a sister's retreat - each girl has their own bedroom and bathroom space that is adjoined with a common play area. The dutch doors offer each child the ability to have semi or full privacy from the other.

Houzz Tour of Sunset View: Elegance by the Lake

2012-01-19T11:06:00.003-05:00

Houzz, a destination site for home design enthusiasts, professionals and homeowners, was kind enough to feature a home tour of one of our favorite lakefront designs, the Sunset View. Check out what they had to say about this beautiful lakeside abode.

Houzz Tour: Cozy Elegance by the Lake

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More»

Browse Home Office Products on Houzz- For Example:

Bulletin Board · Cable Management · Desk Accessories · Desks · Filing Cabinets And Carts · Task Chairs ·

Have you voted yet?

2012-01-16T15:17:00.006-05:00

The deadline for the 2012 Detroit Home Design Awards' Reader's Choice Award is fast approaching! Have you cast your vote yet? You only have until 11:59pm this week Friday, January 20, so click here for specific instructions on how to do so (our design is Entry #6). Please pass this along to your friends and family!

Carlton Shores (Entry #6)

Click here to view more photos of this estate

Where in the World is Wayne Visbeen?

2012-01-12T15:24:00.005-05:00

Wayne Visbeen often travels for work and pleasure to areas around the world that have an abundance of interesting, innovative and eye-catching architecture. Can you guess where he is in these photos? Please post your guesses in a comment here on our blog or on our facebook fan page wall.

Hint #1: The first part of the name of this location is an occupation that 38 million people have worldwide, according to Wikipedia.

Hint #2: It's in Budapest.

Hint #3: The bronze statue in the center is of Stephen I of Hungary.

Pinecliff Residence: For Sale!

2012-01-09T10:25:00.007-05:00

The Pinecliff is a unique solution to a common problem in waterfront property: a narrow lot. What it lacks in width, this home makes up for in height and length, maximizing the available space and taking full advantage of what are sure to be expansive views from each of its three stories. Featuring porthole windows and outdoor upper decks, the Pinecliff exudes a distinctly nautical air, perching on its steep grade like a great docked ship.

The entry-level functions as the main living space, featuring a half bath, entry area, kitchen, dining, and living room. One floor up is the laundry, bunkroom and master suite. The basement level is home to another bedroom suite and office space. Across the way, through the covered patio alcove, is the lower level family room, complete with kitchenette and walkout access to the water.

This beautiful residence is available for sale! Please visit the listing webpage or contact Chad VanHorn with Real Estate Firm for details.

Interior staging by Julie Holmes

Home Solutions for Your New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-05T10:00:00.001-05:00

It's a new year, which means it's that time again: resolution time. We have all made and broken resolutions year after year. But have you ever enlisted the help of your home in accomplishing your yearly goals? Here are a few common resolutions and ways your home can be of assistance....

1. Get Fit: Probably the number one resolution on most people's list, but there is a reason why gym attendance spikes in January and tappers off as the year presses on. We are all busy and it's just tough to find time to make it to the gym. What if you made the gym come to you? Here are a few stellar home gyms that leave no room for excuses...

2. Get Organized: This is a biggie. No one wants to be featured on the show Hoarders and we can all get a little overwhelmed by the day to day onslaught of things (mail, laundry, school papers, work papers, toys - the list goes on and on). One great way to get organized is to enlist the help of built-in storage and management centers like these...

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: It's never too late to become environmentally conscious and there are many ways your home can help you become an eco-friendly consumer...

Create a recycle center for your home - it keeps you organized and can give your household clear guidelines for what is recycled.

image source: http://www.hometone.com/entry/green-nest-going-green-with-recycled-glass-countertops/

You can find many home building products that are made from recycled products like the above recycled glass countertops by Verazzo. Bottles, lamps and wine glasses are turned into beautiful mosaics that make up kitchen and bathroom countertops.

You can also use recycled metal products in your home. Metals like steel, aluminum and copper are made into framing, siding and roofing products.

4. Spend Less, Save More: Due to an increased number of people looking to accomplish resolution #3, there are now plenty of resources you can use to save money in your home...

Energy Star apppliances like dishwashers, washers and dryers use 20-30% less energy than federal standards and can give you significant savings on your monthly utilities.

source: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=FU

image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Star

Furnace efficiencies are reflected in their annual fuel-utilization-efficiency (AFUE) ratings. To qualify as Energy Star, furnaces have AFUE rating of 85% and 90% or higher, making it up to 15% more efficient than standard furnaces. Since heating and cooling makes up roughly 54% of your utility bill each month, you can see how quickly savings will add up.

sources:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/gas-furnaces-703/efficiency-matters/efficiency-matters.htm

http://www.energysavers.gov/pdfs/energy_savers.pdf

5. Learn Something New: As Benjamin Franklin once said, "a house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body." Make sure you have a place in your home that is conducive to learning...

6. Spend more time with family and friends: This is my favorite resolution because it's one that is enjoyable to accomplish! The natural place to spend your time with family and friends is your home, so why not make it a place that makes it easy to entertain.

Open floor plans like this one allow for great spaces to entertain - hosts and guests can mix and mingle in the kitchen, dining room, living room and sun room.

This screened porch and pool area provide a perfect party zone.

What better place to spend time with friends and family than in a delightful game room like this.

Friends and family can enjoy cocktails, table games and the latest sporting event on TV in this lower level entertaining space.

The billiards and bar area in this lower level is perfect for holiday entertaining

May your home be a solution for your New Year's resolutions in 2012!

MoDiv Grand Opening

2012-01-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

The Shops @ MoDiv will have their grand opening later this month! Stores including Haworth, Wolverine Company Store, Vue Design, Eastern Floral, Sofia Bella Couture and others will open their doors for business as part of this retail incubator project on the corner of Monroe and Division.

Congratulations to Rockford Construction on a job well done bringing the design to life!

Here are a few of our original design concept sketches...

Check out MoDiv's website for a full list of retailers - www.shopmodiv.com.

Carlton Shores

2011-12-29T11:00:00.005-05:00

As you know from Monday's post, we are up for a Reader's Choice Award as part of the Detroit Home Design Awards with our residential design called Carlton Shores. Here is a more in-depth introduction to this contemporary twist on the American lodge:

A fresh take on a time-tested favorite can be risky, but the Carlton Shores design is an example of a risk worth taking. This sprawling cottage harkens back to the Arts & Crafts revival, while still managing to exude contemporary appeal. The home sits on the property like a great hunting lodge with its use of exposed wood trim and brackets. A striking array of windows gives the exterior an inviting look, as if to defy the elements and welcome nature right in.

Simplicity rules the interior of the home, leaving the dramatic decorating to the outside views. A creative use of natural materials, such as wood and marble, compliment the flora-and-fauna focus of the home’s aesthetic. Every wall is dominated by glass. Windows of every shape and size allow residents to take in their surroundings, while creating a spacious, open atmosphere. The curving wooden staircase with its high ceilings gives the impression you are climbing into the trees.

A soaring two-story vaulted ceiling covers the indoor pool area, which includes a kitchenette and sitting room. Glass doors open out to a vanishing pool and sundeck. All of this has been designed with the stunning lake vistas in mind. A beautiful deck and boardwalk lead from the house down to the shore, giving homeowners beach access.

Don't forget to vote for this beauty before January 20! Click here to read instructions on how to cast your vote.

We need your votes!

2011-12-26T10:00:00.001-05:00

It's time again for the Detroit Home Design awards and we need your votes! We are up for a reader's choice Best Overall Home Award with one of our projects, Carlton Shores. Here is how to cast your vote...

Step 1: Visit Detroit Home Design Awards' ballot webpage for the 2012 Reader's Choice for Best Overall Home:

http://www.detroithomemag.com/Detroit-Home/Detroit-Home-Design-Awards-2012-Readers-Choice-Ballot-for-Best-Overall-Home/

Step 2: Scroll down and select Carlton Shores, which is Entry #6.
Step 3: Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you are asked to enter your email address, answer a simple math question and then click, "Place your vote!"

The deadline for voting is January 20, 2012, so please cast your vote now and pass this along to all of your friends and family. We need as many votes as possible to hopefully win our first ever Detroit Home Design Awards Reader's Choice!

2011-12-22T16:45:00.004-05:00

In this Holiday Season, we reflect on the past year and are grateful for those who have helped to shape our business. We value your business, your support, your interest, and your feedback and look forward to working with all of you in the years to come.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year filled with peace and prosperity.

Harbor Shores made The New York Times!

2011-12-19T11:40:00.008-05:00

Harbor Shores, the "emerald oasis" of Benton Harbor, MI, was featured in The New York Times last week in the article featured below outlining the history of Benton Harbor, its past and present economic challenges and the hopeful resurgence that developments like Harbor Shores will bring.

Visbeen Associates is proud to be a part of Harbor Shores and the revival of Benton Harbor and the home we designed can be seen in the multimedia slideshow of the article!

Now That the Factories Are Closed, It's Tee Time in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Mark Peterson/Redux, for the New York Times

By JONATHAN MAHLER

Published: December 15, 2011

REPRINTS

On the northern edge of Benton Harbor, just beyond the grim grid of housing projects, shuttered storefronts, boarded-up homes and junk-laden yards that dominate much of the town, sits an emerald oasis known as Harbor Shores. As the name suggests, Harbor Shores is a resort development. At its heart is a pristine Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course that meanders along a river and creek; through woods and wetlands; and, most striking, across tall, white sand dunes overlooking Lake Michigan.

Multimedia

Slide Show

The Key Players in Benton Harbor’s Revival

Readers’ Comments

Readers shared their thoughts on this article.

Read All Comments (62) »

The golf course was built largely on fallow, polluted land that was once crowded with factories: holes No. 4 and No. 5 were the slag pit for a company that made automobile brakes. Holes No. 14 and 15 were a former Superfund site once occupied by a company that used radium and mercury to manufacture components for fighter planes.

Metaphorically speaking, Harbor Shores is supposed to have a similarly salutary effect on the poor, overwhelmingly black town that surrounds it. No mere resort, it was envisioned by its developers as a “single, signature project to drive economic development and bring social change to Benton Harbor,” in the words of one promotional video.

In late August, I played the course with a foursome of hackers that included Marcus Robinson, who helped lead the effort to build the resort. A heavy African-American man, Robinson wore khaki shorts, an orange Harbor Shores golf shirt and matching Harbor Shores straw hat. It was a sticky day, and he guzzled Gatorade as he liberated large chunks of turf that on more than one occasion outflew his ball. “It’s such a beautiful property,” he said as he bent over to fill a large divot with grass seed. “It’s a shame to duff it up.”

Robinson is president of the Consortium for Community Development. The consortium is one of several local nonprofits partly financed by the Whirlpool Corporation, which is based in Benton Harbor, to help encourage the redevelopment of the town. He took up golf at the urging of his girlfriend two years ago, just after construction began on Harbor Shores. “She was like, ‘You don’t want to be out here on opening day and have the ball go two inches in front of you at the first tee,’ ” he told me. “Of course, that’s exactly what happened. On my first drive, the ball didn’t even go out of the tee box.”

Robinson, who is 53, went to graduate school for hypnotherapy, the art of inducing trances to change behavioral patterns, before becoming a corporate consultant in Rochester, N.Y. He was brought to Benton Harbor by Whirlpool as a “diversity consultant” in early 2001. His assignment was to work with community leaders, businesspeople and other local residents to come up with ways to address some of the ever-worsening problems — poverty, violence, white flight, racial strife — that had been plaguing the city for years and were making it increasingly difficult for Whirlpool to attract executive talent to the area. The discussions helped birth Harbor Shores, a notion that had been kicking around a long while.

Given Benton Harbor’s unfavorable history and demographics, no private developer would likely be willing to take on such an ambitious project there. But there was another way: Robinson’s group, along with other nonprofits supported by Whirlpool, could secure enough federal and state grant money to help remediate the land, build the golf course and at least get Harbor Shores off the ground. The project’s complicated financing deal closed in May 2008, right around the time that the national real-estate market crashed.

On the Thursday morning that we played Harbor Shores, the course looked virtually empty. The blueprints call for the 530-acre resort to include high-end hotels and shops and quaint marinas, but as of now it’s basically just a golf course. The first of hundreds of planned houses are going up on cul de sacs with names like Golden Bear Court...

Architectural Tutorial: Mountain Style

2011-12-15T09:38:00.007-05:00

Rugged. Sturdy. Warm. Strong-featured. Cozy. Textured. Rustic.

These are all words that can be used to describe a Mountain Style home. This type of architecture is meant to "blend in with the natural environment" with characteristics like extensive use of stone and timber for building materials. It has more to do with "materials and details than house type" and has characteristics that include over-hanging roofs, small paned windows and ornamentation with natural elements like logs and branches. It offers an "expression of nostalgia for the simpler life of the Colonists who'd founded the United States with little more than a musket and an ax." But what used to be equated as a style for hunting lodges, vacation homes, cabins, dude ranches or tourist-related facilities in national parks is now becoming more prevalent in primary residences. Many modern day Mountain Style residences even pull elements from several other architectural styles like Craftsman/Arts and Crafts, Shingle and Bungalow.

A few well-known examples of Mountain Style architecture include...

The Old Faithful Inn • Yellowstone National Park, WY

image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/txcraig75/4941478551/

The Crater Lake Lodge • Crater Lake National Park, OR

image source: http://www.lovesomatic.info/vacation-rentals/the-crater-lake-lodge.html

Ahwahnee Hotel • Yosemite Valley, CA

image source: http://www.vinetimesonline.com/destination/2010/8/2/destination-amador-to-mariposa.html

Dining room of Ahwahnee Hotel

image source: http://yosemitefun.com/ahwahnee.htm

Glacier Park Lodge • Glacier National Park, MT

image source: http://www.flickriver.com/groups/371396@N20/pool/interesting/

One of the boathouses at Topridge, an Adirondack Great Camp in New York.

image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boathouse_2_at_Topridge.jpg

Lake McDonald Lodge • Glacier National Park, MT

image source: http://www.flickriver.com/groups/371396@N20/pool/interesting/

We have clients that are drawn to this style because of its warmth, relaxed feel and its connection to the outdoors. Here are a few of Visbeen Associates' Mountain Style designs...

Bear Tooth Lodge

Camp Roger

Woodlea

Gray Drake Lodge

Sources:

http://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/files/OAHP/crforms_edumat/pdfs/1642.pdf

http://www.antiquehomestyle.com/styles/rustic.htm

Make-A-Wish Offices

2011-12-12T09:01:00.004-05:00

Wayne and Ryan had the opportunity to design the office space for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. Check out these photos of the finished office from their recent open house!

Staff Post by Wayne Visbeen

2011-12-05T15:04:00.007-05:00

I have had the privilege of playing some of the most revered golf courses in the world in the past 15 years. Many of these classics have been in the East Coast, which has a wonderful tradition of great courses, and for me, even better, great clubhouses. In the East I have played, Oakmont, Oakhill, Baltusrol, Winged Foot, Merion, and most recently Ridgewood Country Club. These courses have all hosted PGA events and have a long tradition of golfing excellence. Several of these courses have two things in common that I want to refer to today: golf course Architect, A.W. Tillinghast and Architect Clifford C. Wendehack. Wendehack worked most prolifically in the 20’s and was responsible for some of my favorite clubhouse designs.

Winged Foot’s Clubhouse is considered by many the quintessential clubhouse and is one of the most beautiful I have visited.

Winged Foot

Mamaroneck, NY

Pennhills Country Club

Bradford, PA

Visbeen Associates has been selected to begin a process of master planning and designing several elements of the Ridgewood Country Club prior to their hosting the Barclays Event the summer of 2014. We are developing a practice facility and doing an addition and pro shop renovation. The future plans include a new pool, pool house, exercise facility and updated kitchen and dining areas. During this time, I have had the luxury of playing the course a few times and enjoying the beauty of this world-class facility. It is a great opportunity to become a part of architectural history.

Rendering of Ridgewood Country Club

Ridgewood Country Club
Paramus, NJ

Sketches done for Ridgewood Country Club

We are also working on another Wendehack Club, Hackensack Country Club in Ordell, N.J. to look at a new pool house and pool facility.

Hackensack Golf Club

Oradell, NJ

Highfield Progress

2011-12-01T13:47:00.005-05:00

We recently received these images of the progress being made on the Highfield residence. It's really coming along!

This will be the final product:

Staff Post by Jennifer Quillan

2011-11-28T15:19:00.002-05:00

I am the controller here at Visbeen Associates. One of the many job duties that fall under that umbrella is human resources. Since we have a large number of employers who read our blog, I thought I’d devote my blog to what makes a good employer-employee relationship.

1. Communication. Proper communication is critical to any interpersonal relationship & the employer-employee one is no exception. Do your employees know what’s expected of them? If they have questions or concerns do they know whom they can talk to?

2. Respect. Tina Turner sang about it, we all need it. Respect their personal space & time, respect their opinions, respect that they might have insight that you don’t – that they can see things that you as the boss can’t. Treat all employees with the same amount of respect – whether they are the CFO or the janitor. “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals” (Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York: Levine-Scholastic, 2000.Print.)

3. Integrity/trust. This is a biggie. Do you mean what you say? All the rest of the points can be in place, but if your employees doubt your integrity, if they don’t trust you, you’ve got a big problem. If a situation arises, do you give your employees the benefit of the doubt (at least the first time)? Do you trust your employees enough not to micro-manage them? “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

4. Fairness. Pay them a fair wage. Give them time off (and make sure they take it!). Don’t tell them at 4:30 on a Friday that they’re going to need to work until 8:30. Give them tasks that they enjoy (when possible). Are they expected to answer e-mail or phone calls off hours? If so, are they compensated them for that?

5. Flexibility. Today’s work is much less geographically dependent. Do all of your employees need to work a “typical work week” of M-F, 8-5? Can employees choose to work noon-8? Or from 6 to 2? Work from home? Can they work 30 hours a week instead of 40? With remote access, conference calls & smart phones consider if there is room to offer some flexibility to your employees. This doesn’t work for all jobs obviously – but is generally highly valued by employees.

6. Providing them with the proper tools & support. Have you trained your management staff? Do people have the proper computer software, computer hardware, printers, etc. to complete their tasks effectively?

But really, why do we care? The economy is starting to make a comeback. Shouldn’t employees still just be happy they have a job? Shouldn’t their continued paycheck be enough of a thank-you? Obviously no. In short, the difference in your workforce will be the difference between employees who are engaged & invested with your company versus employees who are merely “phoning it in” and waiting for the weekend. Of course every relationship is a two-way street. Employees need to communicate, respect, have integrity and be flexible as well. But as the employer, you set the tone for the relationship and hold the most power as to how this relationship will play out.

Late Autumn 2011 Cosmopolitan Home Magazine

2011-11-21T15:41:00.007-05:00

We're very excited to be featured in the Late Autumn 2011 Cosmopolitan Home Magazine! Be sure to pick up your copy to see what we've been up to!

Inside, you'll find articles on each of these:

Duneside

Sunsweet Hill

Here is a link to get a taste:

Autumn 2011 Cosmopolitan Home Magazine

Staff Post by Ryan La Haie

2011-11-17T10:12:00.005-05:00

As I made my way into work this morning, I quickly realized the warm summer weather has faded fast. Today, the frost on the windshield was heavy and I could see my breath for the first few miles of my drive. As my vehicle and being began to warm up, I quickly realized we are beginning to enter into what I believe is the greatest time of year - “FALL”. The leaves are starting to change and all of nature’s beauty is beginning to shift.

My blog entry is for all the Visbeen blog outdoorsmen out there. This is a season of harvest, a season of outdoor beauty, a season of male comradery, and a time where the “Man Cave” is open! Yes I said it. “Man Cave”. This is the place to showcase our prized possessions and our life’s work, no matter how insignificant the lady of the home feels about these items. Hey, we're proud of this stuff!

Here at Visbeen Associates, we have found many creative ways to handle this eclectic space. What if we could design a space that even the lady of the home could be proud of? Is this possible? We believe it is. So let me show you a few examples of what I think are great Visbeen designed “Man caves”.

Music Lovers Dream of a Landmark's Transformation

2011-11-14T15:35:00.005-05:00

While we wait in Grand Rapids for the 2 East Fulton building to undergo transformation and have new life breathed into it, music lovers are pushing for something similar to happen to a musical landmark in Chicago.

A South Michigan Avenue building had been dubbed the "home of the blues" and rock and roll. The building had housed a studio, which birthed the careers of blues artists such as Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Chuck Berry, which in turn inspired rock and roll artists such as Beatles, Eric Clapton, and Mick Jagger.

Currently, this building and the surrounding area, called "Motor Row," where life and inspiration had been flowing has been silent and isn't acknowledged or known by many locals, let alone out-of-towners. But music lovers who know and appreciate the musical history of the area are pushing for it to become a "bright spot" and regain vibrant activity.

While much more planning needs to be done before the area can really be transformed, a great start to bringing back some life has been the installment of Cheap Trick, "a one-of-a-kind eatery, unique musical instrument museum, radio station, and performance space." This lively place just so happens to be our wall neighbors at the Visbeen Associates Chicago office! We have a front row seat to watch Motor Row's transformation, and have the opportunity to infuse our inspiration and creativity into the area. You can be sure when you visit, you'll be able to experience the growth, too.

Check out the full article and news clip about the dreams and beginnings of development for Motor Row.

Staff Post by Lori Potter

2011-11-10T10:10:00.004-05:00

My Dream Home

I grew up in a small 70's ranch. I'm sure you've all seen them. A basic rectangle with a center front door and a picture window on one side and several bedroom windows on the other side. My sister and I shared a room and we all shared a single bathroom. I remember many fights and screaming matches that always ended in tears. I also remember sitting up way past bedtime sharing dreams and secrets with my sister. She was my playmate, conspirator, fellow dreamer, and best friend. I remember dreaming of living in one of those large houses where every child has their own room. Especially their own bathroom.

I went on to college and internships. I started working for Visbeen Associates, Inc. in 2000 One of the benefits and downfalls of my job is that you are constantly "building your dream home" in your mind. At that time I was engaged and dreaming up the house I would like to raise our future children in. I dreamed of a large home with a bedroom for each child, at least three bathrooms, plenty of room (out of sight) for their toys, an office for myself where I could work from home while they quietly played. Similar to these plans -

During the last eleven years, I have gotten married, had several children, and lost several loved ones. My values have changed dramatically. I want to be a presence in my children's lives not just present. I want to hear them playing, laughing, telling secrets, and sometimes fighting. I want to trip over the toys at three am when I am walking them back to bed. I want them to learn to be courteous, forgiving, loving, and God fearing. I want to know without a doubt that whatever life throws at them, their family and faith will always be there. They don't need their own bedroom or bathroom. They need a roof over their head and a pillow underneath it. More square footage doesn't make a better house. It is the quality of that square footage that makes a home. Now my dream home looks more like this -

I wonder what my dream home will look like in another 10 years.

Staff Post by Paul Fikse

2011-11-07T13:34:00.005-05:00

Barns serve numerous functions and their design often reflects their intended use. Whether used to store agricultural produce, livestock or equipment - a good barn comes in handy.

The historic two-barn combination barn shown below 150 foot in length and was the main building for a dairy creamery business.

Image provided by the Eaton Rapids Area Historical Society

This image shows that the most important part of a barn is the roof.

One of the finest example of architecturally spectacular barns is right here in Michigan. Many of you may have seen this barn near Sleeping Bear Dunes:

photo of the D.H. Day Barn - Glen Harbor, MI

by John H. Bowman

I’ve had an appreciation for barns, but as a horse owner and rider, I have a special appreciation of a good horse barn. The image below is one of the barns at the Michigan State facility. In spring they hold a horse expo.

This illustration once again exhibits the talents of Visbeen Associates, Inc. and casts a wonderful vision of an elegant equestrian facility.

The image below is of our family on a recent trail ride. The month of October is my favorite - as the cooler temperatures and autumn colors provide the backdrop for some wonder rides and time with my wife and children.

Although not about barns in particular - the quote below is one of my favorites on a somewhat related subject.

Cornerstone University Gets A New Stadium

2011-11-03T15:07:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, Cornerstone University broke ground for their new baseball stadium, designed by Visbeen Associates. Here's the article CU released yesterday for the ceremony:

CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY

BREAKS GROUND ON NEW BASEBALL STADIUM

Announces New Baseball Staff

Grand Rapids, Mich. – Cornerstone University broke ground today on its $8 million dollar one-of-its-kind baseball stadium and new residence hall combination.

Construction on the new baseball complex will begin April 1 with the first pitch being thrown out in the fall of 2012.

“We need a new dorm and a baseball field so it will save us a footprint on campus,” said Dr. Joe Stowell, president of Cornerstone University, during chapel Nov. 2 held prior to the outdoor groundbreaking. “We needed both so we combined the two and solved the dorm issue.”

The new stadium will have 500 stadium seats, artificial turf, lighting, a concession stand, locker rooms for both men’s baseball and women’s softball, a training center, weight room, indoor pitching machines and indoor batting cages.

Above the training center will be a 100 bed residence hall needed to accommodate increasing enrollment.

Jack and Mary DeWitt of Holland, Mich., provided a gift of $5 million two months ago that will fully fund the baseball facility and provide $3 million in seed money for a new chapel and fine arts center.

“Without God’s goodness and grace we wouldn’t be here,” said Jack DeWitt, owner of Request Foods. “We believe every Christian college in West Michigan should have a chapel building. Glory be to God.”

After the chapel service a ceremonial ground breaking took place on the field where the stadium will be located. A starting line-up of nine people wore CU jerseys and hard hats before putting their shovels in the ground.

Head Coach David Mitroff and his team of assistants were introduced. His coaching staff includes: Ron Engle, senior assistant coach of Wyoming, Mich.; Chuck Lowitski, assistant coach of Chicago, Ill., and volunteer assistant coach Doug Smith of Sparta, Mich.

“We’re very excited to bring baseball back to CU along with a brand new facility for the program,” said Dave Grube, athletic director for Cornerstone University. “Our goal is to provide a first class program that will honor God and represent our university with strong character and class.”

The DeWitts were presented with a framed home plate signed by the Cornerstone president and other staff members and a shovel with a bat handle.

“Mary and I share a mutual interest in and enthusiasm for the mission and vision of Cornerstone University. We are delighted to partner with the university’s leadership in the enterprise of graduating students who will influence West Michigan and our world for Christ.”

The new facility will host high school tournaments, summer leagues and youth programs. The vision for the facility also includes major league baseball players conducting clinics for West Michigan coaches and players.

Congratulations, Cornerstone! Here's a link to another article about the new stadium, released by the Grand Rapids Press.

2 E. Fulton Building's Fate Decided

2011-10-31T13:07:00.003-04:00

Remember the building on 2 E. Fulton St that was blogged about a month or so ago? The one David Lorenz from Visbeen Associates designed concepts for and submitted as a piece to vote for during ArtPrize? Here's a quick refresher. Recently, the 2 E. Fulton St building (and its renderings) was discussed in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, which announced that this city "eyesore" will finally be renovated by Locus Development. Vacant since 1998, Locus Development will be investing $4.5 million into "historically redeveloping" this building.

While they are not giving out too much information just yet as to which business specifically will be occupying the space, John Green and Andy Winkle of Locus Development did reveal that the top floor will be occupied by an office tenant, and the ground floor will be a new restaurant. What type of restaurant is coming has yet to be said, but Green did say we do not have "this type" of eatery yet in Grand Rapids.

Green stated that he hopes for construction to begin near the end of the first quarter of 2012 and have the work finished before ArtPrize starts up again in September.

Staff Post by Jonathan Lorenz

2011-10-27T13:29:00.005-04:00

For the next couple of weeks, we will be featuring blog posts from the rest of the Visbeen Associates staff. Let's get started with a post from Jonathan and his idea to beautify Eastown:

My attempt at blog contribution is to take notice of the unremarkable but highly trafficked areas of our city and produce a quick concept sketch that will hopefully show a way architecture can improve the location. So here is my first one, the location is found in Eastown on the corner of Giddings and Wealthy, which is currently home to a do-it-yourself car wash. Car washes are incredibly bad for the environment, our Grand River, and all else down stream. The other fault of this type of commercial application is that one business with only one employee is using all the potential space that three or four businesses could easily occupy and employ a handful of neighborhood denizens. There are many more nuances for first selecting this site (e.g. unsightliness, night crime, environmental concerns as I mentioned earlier, etc.), but I think the economic benefit is truly primary here the others are an amazing benefit to creating truly sustainable buildings.

Keep in mind this is just sketching for fun. This building is not the start of a real project in any shape or form, but just for fun I would love to hear some comments and thoughts on what businesses could occupy the building. It could be anything; the sky is the limit. Personally, I would like to see a Jack-of-All-Trades take the corner unit and a classy P.I. above! Also what could happen with the streetscape that will tie this idea to the westerly residences and the rest of the commercial corridor to the east? Could a similar building be mirrored across the street in the vacant lot? Don't forget that Grand Rapids doesn't have a parking problem; what we have is a walking problem, so next we should fill in the parking lot with a real building! Let's get our DENSITY ON!

Before: The current view of Wealthy St with the car wash

After: Sans car wash, but a beautiful building in its place

Keep checking back to see more posts from the rest of the staff!

Meadowview Transformed

2011-10-24T14:56:00.005-04:00

Meadowview's patio area recently underwent an outstanding renovation. Check out these before and after photos to see how Visbeen Associates transformed this area to be an amazing, cozy getaway, just outside the resident's doors.

Before:

After:

Haverhill and Broadway "After" Pictures

2011-10-19T12:02:00.010-04:00

Here we have the latest "after" photos of the Haverhill Residence and the Broadway Residence. You still have the opportunity to experience these in person at the Fall Parade of Homes, going on now through this Saturday, the 22nd! Click here to view the guidebook, and be sure to come out and enjoy these designs by Visbeen Associates!

The Haverhill Residence (listed #20 in the guidebook):

The Broadway Residence (listed #9 in the guidebook):

Olivia Grace TerVeen

2011-10-17T16:25:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to

Chris & Megan TerVeen

on the birth of their beautiful daughter,

Olivia Grace!

Kalamazoo Parade of Homes

2011-10-12T14:25:00.005-04:00

Along with the Grand Rapids Parade of Homes, the Kalamazoo Parade of Homes is also going on right now, where you can experience this residence designed by Visbeen Associates:

Pine Cliff

Exterior 3D rendering of the Pine Cliff

The “Pine Cliff” is a unique solution to a common problem in waterfront property: a narrow lot. What it lacks in width, this home makes up for in height and length, maximizing the available space and taking full advantage of what are sure to be expansive views from each of its three stories. Featuring porthole windows and outdoor upper decks, the “Pine Cliff” exudes a distinctly nautical air, perching on its steep grade like a great docked ship.

You can visit this residence at the Kalamazoo Parade of Homes, which is running from October 7 - October 22

Fridays:
Saturdays:
Sundays:
Wednesdays:

4-8 p.m.
1-8 p.m.
1-5 p.m.*
4-8 p.m

*Please note that not all homes are open on Sundays.
*Remodeled and Showcase Homes are Open October 21-22 Only

For a guidebook, you can click here to download the PDF version. The "Pine Cliff" is listed as home number 2 on page 4 of the guidebook.

FOX 17's Interview with Wayne

2011-10-11T15:10:00.003-04:00

Take a look at this interview Wayne did with Fox 17 about the Fall Parade of Homes:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—
The annual "Fall Parade of Homes" kicked off Friday, in Grand Rapids. The event allows home builders to show off their latest and greatest designs, and try to sell a few models. However, 75% fewer homes are on display this year compared to 2006.

"The beauty of this particular condo, it’s a 4,000 square foot and it's a fabulous condo, it's a penthouse condo," says architect Wayne Visbeen. He spent the day showing people the million dollar unit inside River House Condos, in downtown Grand Rapids. It’s one of 25 homes on display, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids. In 2006, 110 homes were a part of the tour.

"Well the market has been really tough," says Visbeen. "In 2008, Visbeen had 11 homes that were in the parade, with about 6 or 7 different builders, and this year we have two," the architect adds. He says two is actually a good number. “Because a couple years ago, we were down to none and one,” says Visbeen.

Architects and builders have a drop in building permits to blame. That means people can’t or don’t want to buy new. Emily Siebert with the Home Builders Association says those permits took a nose dive after 2006. ”There’s just not as much activity obviously in the building industry, it follows the economy. It follows all of those other metrics,” Siebert says.

“I think people have been really hesitant to spend money and build new homes. They’re all kind of holding back trying to watch what’s going on in the market place. But I do think that you’re starting to see people gain confidence in the market place,” Visbeen says optimistically.

With 25 homes to look at, builders say those who go on the parade have a better chance to see every single house along the route. They’re hoping to make a sale or at least spark some interest. Are you interested in the tour? http://www.hbaggr.com/events/parade-of-homes.html

Click here to see the story on Fox 17's website and watch the clip from the news broadcast.

Fall Parade of Homes

2011-10-06T13:22:00.008-04:00

The Fall Parade of Homes by the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids begins tomorrow, October 7, and goes through October 22. Take this opportunity to check out these two outstanding residences designed by Visbeen Associates!

The first residence is the Haverhill:

Exterior rendering of the Haverhill

The “Haverhill” is a simply elegant Georgian-style home. Symmetry and order are balanced by decorative details, all of which contribute to the authenticity of the design. Arched rooflines, copper dormers and stone masonry are just a few of the creative touches found on this home’s exterior.

Inside, living spaces are comfortable and open, with the kitchen, dining, sitting, and living areas connected. Multiple office and workspaces, as well as a screened porch and large patio are also included on in the main level floor plan.

The upper level features a large master bedroom, bathroom and connected laundry facility, as well as a home office and double en suite guest rooms.
The second residence is the Broadway:

Interior sketch of the bar at the Broadway

When you imagine a single floor, sky-rise living unit, it is not often that you picture a two-bedroom, four-bath luxury home. The “Broadway” will transform your definition of “apartment,” and might even convince you that city living is the way to go.

The master bedroom is opulently appointed, and includes a hearth area, Jacuzzi, and extensive walk-in closet. Adjacent is the kitchen and dining areas, which feature bar seating, a pantry and ample counter space for food preparation and entertaining. A comfortable home office is partitioned off from the sitting room, which leads out onto a private terrace.

Leading into the opposite wing of the home is a unique refreshment and kitchenette area. This large bar is situated along a bank of curving windows, giving residents a stunning view of the city below. Conveniently located around the corner is the recreation room, with space for billiards, game tables and a home theater. The guest bedroom, bathrooms, laundry, second terrace, and private study occupy the remainder of this extraordinary dwelling place.

Don't miss out on catching these gems at the Parade of Homes!
October 7 - October 22
Fridays, Saturdays, and Wednesdays: 1-8 pm

Fall Parade of Homes: Haverhill

2011-10-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

Included in this year's Fall Parade of Homes by the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids are two fabulous, yet very different residences designed by Visbeen Associates. The first of which is called the Haverhill and is in East Grand Rapids. Colonial in style, the Haverhill relies on classic lines and a pleasing symmetrical facade. A welcoming front door with transom windows and sidelights users guests inside, where a modern floor plan complements the home's historically inspired past. The main level features an open floor plan, with a central kitchen and dining area, a home office and formal living space with fireplace. A screened porch overlooks the backyard and leads to the spacious garage. Upstairs is a private master suite, two additional bedrooms and a family office. The lower level offers an exercise room, game space, family room and two bonus areas. Here is a little sneak peak of this stunning residence with photos taken at a private event at the home last week.

Exterior rendering of the Haverhill

Family room off of the kitchen turned into bar area for the private party

The open floor plan was the perfect layout for this party

Can't be a party without delicious food!

More delectables displayed on the butcher block kitchen island

Schmoozing in the kitchen / dining area

Guitar and viola music filled the home with the perfect ambiance

Don't miss your opportunity to tour this beautiful home as a part of the Parade of Homes starting this Friday, October 7 through October 22!

Professional Builder: The iPad Effect

2011-09-29T16:38:00.004-04:00

We thought we would share an article published in the September issue Professional Builder Magazine on "The iPad Effect." This issue outlines what builders, trades, designers and suppliers are using iPads and other tablet devices for in home-building applications and also sheds light on the benefits and drawbacks of this emerging business tool category. Here at Visbeen Associates, we always try to stay up on the latest technology trends and we are on the iPad bandwagon! It has been a great addition to our business. If you have been in a meeting with Wayne in the last year or so, you may have already seen him use the iPad to show you a plethora of project photos in the iPad's portfolio.

What do you think - is the iPad a business booster for you?

Design on the fly: How tablets are transforming the design process

Architects, designers, and builders are turning to tablets for a variety of
design-related tasks, including in-the-field design reviews and client presentations.

By Susan Bady, Contributing Editor

September 22, 2011

PHOTO Architect Christopher Derrick (right) reviews a design concept with one of his clients using an iPad. The tablet allows Derrick to quickly update, access, and present his design ideas and portfolio of work from anywhere in the country.

The tablet PC has become a powerful business tool for home builders, architects, and designers alike. The iPad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy, and other tablets are widely used for such applications as construction management, sales tracking, and customer service.

In residential design, though, the use of tablets has primarily been limited to client presentations and annotating drawings on the job site. Wheaton, Ill.-based architect Christopher Derrick recognized the potential of the iPad after giving his wife one for Christmas. “I played around with it longer than she did, so I decided to get one for myself,” he says.

Derrick uses his iPad primarily for client presentations. “Instead of carrying a large portfolio with drawings, I put together a portfolio on the iPad, which is very easy to do,” he says. “Instead of having to print out and enlarge photos, I can upload them to the iPad as soon as I take them with a digital camera, so the portfolio is up to date.” Presentations can be modified to show only new construction or only remodeling projects, depending on the client. Derrick also has an overview presentation that mixes the two.

5 ways builders, architects, and designers are using tablets to design homes

1. Client presentations — Architects and designers can quickly update, access, and present their entire portfolio of work with the tap of a finger.

2. Annotating drawings — Using apps like AutoCAD WS, design professionals can instantly access, change, and markup CAD drawings while on the jobsite or the road.

3. Create an online library of colors, textures, and materials — There are a host of apps for evaluating material and color choices. Virtual design boards can be loaded with fabric swatches, tiles, and other samples, and several major paint suppliers now offer tablet apps for color matching.

4. Basic design from scratch — Tools like SketchBook Pro allow designers to create drawings from scratch with a tablet, using either a stylus or finger touch. Think of it as a replacement to the napkin sketch.

5. Virtual design meetings — Virtual face-to-face meetings allow design team members and clients in multiple locations to collaborate on projects using CAD drawings, PDFs, screen captures, emails, and other key documentation.

“I mainly use AutoCAD for architectural drawings, plus some minor programs that are more structural,” he says. “I’ll also take PDFs of different projects, load them onto the iPad, and go off to the job site. I have all the details with me; I’m not trying to page through everything or hold up a 24-by-36-inch drawing. It’s all on my screen.”

At press time, Derrick had just purchased AutoCAD WS, a mobile application that will automatically sync plan changes made on the iPad with his office computer, and allow him to access, edit, and share drawings with clients and builders.

Tal Weiss, lead developer of AutoCAD WS, says the app is now also compatible with Android phones and tablets. Architects, engineers, and builders are the dominant users, says Weiss.

The untapped potential of tablets

Versatile as they are, tablets are not ideal for full-blown design applications — yet.

“The challenge with design on the iPad is that you’re doing everything with your fingers, so it’s not as precise,” says Derrick. “If there was some way to hook up a mouse to it, I think it would be very functional, but until it gets to that point, tablets are going to be much more useful for presentation and viewing and office work.”

Mark Johnson, director of architect relations and education for Masco Cabinetry, Taylor, Mich., agrees: “Based on the apps that have been developed, the tablet is more of a presentation tool than an actual design tool. You can do some notation and light drafting, but not heavy design work.”

However, Johnson is digging deeper into the potential of tablets for home design. He recently created a presentation that showcases business applications for the iPad that Masco can use in its kitchen and bath showroom, as well as in the field. Johnson’s portfolio of 16 apps includes a virtual design board with fabric swatches, tiles, and other samples; a paint color-matching app; and a gallery of kitchen and bath photos that helps clients jump-start their projects.

Masco already uses Google SketchUp, a 3D CAD program, to design cabinetry. There is currently no iPad app for SketchUp, but Johnson found a reader called 3-D Dea for viewing SketchUp files on the iPad.

“We thought that with better project organization, communication, online sharing, and 3D visualization, the iPad would be a powerful tool for helping them sell projects,” he says. “I’ll sometimes hear folks say that with all these new tools they’re using, they’re able to sell kitchens faster. You can take a design you’re working on and show it to customers on an iPad in 3D. It’s in full color, and you can pan around it and take them on a walkthrough of what hopefully will become their future kitchen or bath.”

Like Derrick, Brian McMillen of McMillen Designs in Wasilla, Alaska, uses his iPad more frequently for client presentations than anything else. Occasionally, McMillen makes design changes in the field at a client’s request, and he expects to be doing more of that in the future. He says a tablet with a 3D viewer would be useful: “I’m taking Revit files and Architectural Desktop files that are 3D and basically using them in 2D.”

Tablet Report Contents

• Exclusive Research
• Tablets on the Jobsite
• Designing with Tablets
• Using Tablets to Market and Sell Homes
• Product Review: Which Tablet is Right for You?
• 99 Tablet Apps Made for Builders

Joel Esposito, a 3D artist who produces digital marketing materials for True Design Studio in Jacksonville, Fla., loads collateral onto an iPad for viewing in 2D and 3D — sort of. “The 3D content consists of interactive panoramas,” says Esposito. “Although it’s not true 3D, it really does look and feel like it.”

For now, McMillen is happy that he doesn’t have to tote rolled-up blueprints to construction sites with a scale to make sure the dimensions are accurate. “Being able to check the actual drawn dimensions and scaling it off the drawings is not necessarily a time saver, but it eliminates the margin for error.”

Luck of the draw

SketchBook Pro (another Autodesk product) is, as the name suggests, a digital sketchbook, though unlike SketchUp, it’s a 2D program. Chris Cheung, SketchBook product line manager, says professional designers as well as hobbyists and artists use the program. SketchBook Pro for iPad was launched in April 2010, and a version for Android was released in July 2011. Users sketch directly on the tablet’s touch-sensitive screen either with their finger or a stylus. There are different levels of sophistication; for example, the premium edition of SketchBook Pro allows designers to work with multiple layers of a sketch.

Cheung says designers who spend a lot of time on the road are using SketchBook Pro for iPad as “a kind of whiteboard with their office.” The office team emails the designer layouts, screen captures, or digital photos, “then the designer fires up SketchBook and annotates them or does a design concept over them, makes some adjustments, and sends the email back to the office.”

True Design Studio is using AutoCAD WS and will soon implement other Autodesk and Adobe applications such as SketchBook Pro. Esposito believes that when accompanied with a stylus, SketchBook Pro will prove to be the most versatile. “It will do away with the napkin sketch and allow us to develop concepts on the fly,” he says. “It may prove to be particularly powerful since you could feasibly take a picture with your iPad 2 camera, then draw over it in SketchBook.”

Esposito adds that this capability “could be a real game changer for remodeling projects. Someone in the field could sketch in a client’s requests, send it back to the studio to get feedback, and within minutes we could have a mature concept ready to be reviewed.”

Does tablet screen size matter?

One builder who was using tablets on a day-to-day basis abandoned them in favor of the smart phone. “Primarily I was using a tablet for my own organization, because I had so much to keep track of,” says Ron Paulk of Paulk Custom Homes, Anacortes, Wash. He now performs the same functions on an iPhone, which fits in his pocket and has a construction calculator, camera, and voice recorder, in addition to Internet connectivity and email.

From a design standpoint, though, Derrick prefers the tablet. He tried putting PDFs on his phone and found that the screen was too small. “Even though you can enlarge images on a phone, you have a much larger viewing area on an iPad,” he says. “I think that’s completely worth it.”

Johnson says the tablet doesn’t lend itself to the way most professionals work with CAD applications. “They use a mouse with a scroll wheel, which is a big time saver in SketchUp,” he says. Johnson uses a 24-inch monitor connected to his laptop when he’s drawing “because everything is so easy to see. Right now, the process that a lot of us are used to might feel a bit clunky on a tablet.”

Still, don’t underestimate the speed of technological advancement. By this time next year, there could be an app or device that facilitates full-scale home design on a tablet.

Source: http://www.housingzone.com/professionalbuilder/design/design-fly-how-tablets-are-transforming-design-process

Architectural Tutorial: Storybook Homes

2011-09-26T11:00:00.002-04:00

"On they walked and walked, till suddenly they came upon a strange cottage in the middle of a glade. "This is chocolate!" gasped Hansel as he broke a lump of plaster from the wall. "And this is icing!" exclaimed Gretel, putting another piece of wall in her mouth. Starving but delighted, the children began to eat pieces of candy broken off the cottage. "Isn't this delicious?" said Gretel, with her mouth full. She had never tasted anything so nice."
~Hansel and Gretel
http://theliterarylink.com/gretel.html

Having a home look so good, you could eat it? That is what storybook homes are all about. Also known as Fairy Tale, Disneyesque or Hansel and Gretel architecture, this style was popularized in the 1920s in England and the United States, especially on the West Coast. These homes were designed by "architects and builders with a distinct flair for theater, a love of fine craftsmanship and, not least, a good sense of humor," the most famous of which include Harry Oliver, Walter W. Dixon, William R. Yelland and Carr Jones (Gellner and Keister 1). The three characteristics that set this style apart from others of the 1920s include...

1) Exaggeratedly plastic and often cartoonish interpretation of medieval forms

2) Use of artificial means to suggest great age

3) The indefinable quality known as "whimsy"

These homes aimed to elicit an emotional rather than rational response and adjectives like picturesque, charming, cute and quaint come to mind when viewing them.

Here are a few notable examples of storybook style homes...

The Spadena House, also known as the Witch's House, was designed by Harry Oliver in 1921. According to the book, Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the 1920s, this home's "entire design is a cleverly wrought caricature of dilapidated antiquity." Image source: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fOtgZSaiSEiHf6y4NYMlHw

Architect-builder Carr Jones designed this Oakland, California fairy tale home. Image source: http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t307/xmojorisinx/IMG_5261.jpg

Even the surrounding landscaping of Jones' storybook residence is filled with whimsy. Image source: http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t307/xmojorisinx/IMG_5261.jpg

This eight-unit apartment building a few steps from the University of California at Berkeley, called Normandy Village, is the realization of William R. Yelland's dream of building a unique residence for students and teachers patterned on villages he had seen in Northern France. Image source: http://berkeleyheritage.com/berkeley_landmarks/thornburg.html

Visbeen Homes recently designed a series of homes in this storybook style - full of whimsy, charm and almost good enough to eat...

Canterbury

Buttermere

Chatham

Cambridge

Wellington

Sources:

Gellner, Arrol and Douglas Keister. Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the Twenties. New York: Penguin Group, 2001.

ArtPrize 2011: Let the voting begin!

2011-09-22T13:54:00.005-04:00

image source: http://www.avartica.com/gallery/500/75ff6229e0e5b914.gif

As of last night, ArtPrize is in full swing! This is a very exciting time for Grand Rapids and for Visbeen Associates because David Lorenz, our senior designer, is an official ArtPrize artist. Three of his stellar watercolor renderings are featured at 2 East Fulton on the north side of the building. Titled "Potential Revealed," these pieces capture the vision for what the building at 2 East Fulton could be. After the Livingston Hotel burned down on this property back in 1924, this building was erected as the Davenport Institute and later was used as the Junior Achievement Building followed by roughly 15 years of vacancy. Now, Visbeen Associates is working together with Locus Development on the possibilities for this building to preserve the rich history of its past while encouraging the growth, culture and community of the future downtown Grand Rapids.

Here are a few photos of the actual piece, but please check it out in person and vote for David!

Grand Rapids Business Journal Feature

2011-09-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

Grand Rapids Business Journal just featured a write-up regarding Visbeen Associates' 8 awards from the American Institute of Building Design's American Residential Design Awards in the "Change-Ups" section of their issue last month. Want to see more about our ARDA winning designs? Check out the ARDA 2011 blog post from last month to see all eight award winners.

Thank you for the feature, GRBJ!

For ease of reading, click here to view the full feature.

An Evening Under the Tuscan Sky: CASA Fundraiser

2011-09-15T09:21:00.010-04:00

This evening, CASA (Court Appointed Sepcial Advocates) for children is holding their 5th Annual House Party at our award-winning home design called the Stafford (Design Home 2008) in an event called An Evening Under the Tuscan Sky. CASA of Kent County is a non-profit program that empowers everyday citizens to become court appointed advocates in order to act on behalf of abused or neglected children as they pass through the family court system. Last year, this event raised over $30,000 for the organization, so we are thrilled that one of our designs will be the locations of such an influential fundraiser as this. Check out more photos of this masterpiece below.

To view additional photos of this home, please visit our website www.visbeen.biz > gallery > residential projects > estates > stafford.

For more information about this event, please visit CASA's website.

Grand Rapids Magazine ReDesigning Home 2011

2011-09-12T13:00:00.001-04:00

This year, Grand Rapids Magazine is presenting ReDesigning Home 2011, a french farmhouse on the shores of Reeds Lake, as a special prelude to Design Home 2012, a Visbeen Associates and Jeffery Roberts collaboration. They are hosting an exclusive cocktail reception and tour of the home on September 22 from 6:00p-9:00p with proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross. Visit Grand Rapids Magazine's website for more information about this project or American Red Cross' website to make your reservations for tickets to this exclusive event by September 14.

Stay tuned for next year's Design Home!

More than Architecture

2011-09-11T08:46:00.001-04:00

It is September 11, 2011, exactly 10 years after the attack on the World Trade Center. That Tuesday morning, one decade ago, marks the moment that two towers became more than just architecture. Yes, they were a part of the city's skyline for almost thirty years, designed by one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century, present in iconic movies, famous photos and part of the everyday lives of upwards of 50,000 people who worked there. But now they are more than just buildings. Their absence marks the lives of nearly 3,000 people that were lost that day. Their absence marks the first attack on US mainland soil. Every architect wants the structures they design to make an impact on the history of the space around it. They want their works to be functional, beautiful, recognizable, maybe even famous. But I wonder if Minoru Yamasaki had any idea the kind of recognition his twin towers design would get? What those buildings would mean to millions of people? All of our lives changed that day, forever. All when two buildings, two colossal pieces of architecture, fell to the ground.

So today, ten years later, marks a time for reflection and remembrance. But also a time for rebuilding. The 9/11 memorial is being dedicated today, to remember every life lost that day and to forever mark the footprint of where the towers once stood. The architecture surrounding that hallowed ground is in the process of being rebuilt. Watch the video below to hear the vision of the architects for these new structures. They clearly understand that architecture is sometimes more than just a building.

David Lorenz in ArtPrize!

2011-09-08T13:00:00.001-04:00

The highly anticipated ArtPrize 2011 is less than two weeks away and we are proud to announce that David Lorenz, senior designer here at Visbeen Associates, is an official ArtPrize artist! Three of his masterpiece watercolors, completed in a project for Visbeen Associates and Locus Development for the potential renovation of the building, will be featured at 2 East Fulton along with 9 other site-specific art installations sponsored by Site:Lab + U of M's School of Art and Design. To see all of the dynamic artists that will be featured at this great location, visit their ArtPrize venue page or Site:Lab's facebook page. It is going to be the place to visit for ArtPrize, so don't miss it!

ArtPrize runs from September 21-October 9 - be sure to check out David's work on the north side of the building on Fulton Street!

Happy Labor Day!

2011-09-05T11:30:00.001-04:00

Hope you are enjoying a fabulous, fun and relaxing labor day, without much labor!

Cornerstone's Dining Commons Gets A New Look

2011-09-01T16:00:00.000-04:00

Cornerstone University, with the help of Visbeen Associates, C2AE and dedicated donors, recently completed the renovation of their dining commons. On Monday, August 29, staff, faculty and students were a part of a ribbon cutting ceremony where the space was dedicated. After a few words from the university's President, Joe Stowell, Wayne Visbeen, a Cornerstone Board of Trustees member, and food services director, Cindy Wiltheiss, a round of singing "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" concluded the ceremony and welcomed everyone into the new dining experience at Cornerstone. Check out photos of this great new space and the ribbon cutting ceremony below.

To read more about Cornerstone's renovation, read The Grand Rapids Press article from Tuesday's paper or Cornerstone University's news article.

Visbeen Associates' original design sketch for the project

Completed Dining Commons

Chef's Choice in center with Deli behind and Fresh Greens on the right

Fresh Greens station

Homemade pizzas are made in Joe's Pizzaria

Ribbon ready for cutting!

A faculty & staff meeting in the renovated dining room

Cornerstone's president, Joe Stowell, and Wayne Visbeen, a Board of Trustees member, exchanging a few words

Wayne offering up a few words on how this new facility demonstrates the growth of the university

Food services director, Cindy Wiltheiss, officially cutting the ribbon

Staff, faculty and students enjoying the new dining experience

Students joined in on the lunch fare

A few attendees dishing up

Fresh pasta made to order in the Chef's Choice section of the dining commons

Joe's Pizzeria in action!

The Fresh Greens section was a hit!

President Joe Stowell and Wayne Visbeen enjoying the festivities

FREE Shingles Offer!

2011-08-29T15:11:00.006-04:00

Are you in need of a new roof? A building product manufacturer that we work with is offering our clients, fans and followers a sweet deal for FREE SHINGLES! They are testing two new roofing products and are looking for homes that are French Country, Craftsman or Mediterranean styles as candidates for free shingles to be installed in mid- to late-October! If you would like to be considered for this great opportunity, please email a picture of your home to info@visbeen.biz or post it to our facebook page (www.facebook.com/visbeenassociates) and we would be happy to connect you with the company!

Thinking Outside the Box

2011-08-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

We received an email forward (they DO still exist!) with some quirky photo examples of architectural, interior design and other design elements that think outside the box, so we thought we would pass it along.

How do you think outside the box?

Great Lake Story: Chapter Two

2011-08-22T13:58:00.004-04:00

Chapter Two of this year's Great Lake Story is out in Michigan Blue Magazine's fall issue! Joan and Scott Willet's journey to The Fairways at Harbor Shores continues as we hear a little more about the location and their possible new home, designed by Visbeen Associates, built by Falcon Custom Homes with interiors by Gallery Interiors.

If you missed Chapter One, click here to catch up on how Joan and Scott's journey began.

For ease of reading, click here to view the full article.

Railside Golf Club

2011-08-18T11:00:00.000-04:00

In addition to custom residential design, Visbeen Associates also specializes in country club design. One of our recent country club projects was a renovation of Railside Country Club in Byron Center, MI. Take a look at the before photos, design sketches that shaped the renovation and the final product. An already fantastic golf club is now able to service it's members and guests even better, offering them updated facilities and amenities, both inside and out.

Front Exterior - after

Front Entry - before

Front Entry - after

Fireplace Entry - before

Fireplace Entry - after

Dining Room - before

Dining Room - design concept rendering

Dining Room - after

Private Dining - design concept sketch

Private Dining - after

Bar - before

Bar - design concept sketch

Bar - after

Bar Dining - design concept sketch

Bar Dining - after

Exterior Patio Dining - after

Exterior Fireplace & Grille - design concept sketch

Exterior Fireplace & Grille - after

Rear Exterior - before

Rear Exterior - after

Kensington Residence

2011-08-15T11:00:00.002-04:00

Last year, we brought to your attention a LEED certified residence we designed in Grosse Pointe Park, MI called the Kensington. This beautiful infill design is now fully completed, so here are the finished photos. A few words about this design...

Who says they don’t make them like the used to? This charming Craftsman-inspired design, built to fit into an established city neighborhood but at home anywhere, proves otherwise. Double columns and three inset windows flank the entranceway, which leads into a classic Four-Square floor plan. The foyer, with its classic wooden staircase, leads to the living, dining and kitchen area on one side, and the den and hearth room on the other. The design and classic screened-in porch take its cues from the past, but the open kitchen and hearth room reflect today’s casual lifestyles. Upstairs is the master suite, four additional family bedrooms and three convenient baths.

For more information on the Kensington, visit our other blog entries on this home:

Detroit News Article on LEED certified home

LEED certification

Madie's Castle Wish Comes True

2011-08-11T13:00:00.003-04:00

Visbeen Associates' tag line for the past few years has been "let us turn your dreams into your reality..." but nothing is quite as rewarding as being able to turn the dreams for a play castle into reality for a 10-year-old leukemia survivor. David Lorenz, Visbeen Associates' senior designer, headed up the design of Madie Flores' dream castle as a part of her wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Lorenz had the opportunity to meet with Madie personally for a design session to brainstorm ideas. After drawing out detailed plans for the elaborate play house, Lorenz enlisted the help of friend and handyman, Aaron Edwards, to construct it. Edwards built the play house in pieces at his home in Grand Rapids and reassembled it with the help of dozens of volunteers in Flores' backyard in St. Joseph last week. Now Madie can enjoy a fairytale ending to the summer in her castle play house fit for a king.

VAI Working drawings for the castle design

Madie celebrating the completion of her castle play house!

10-year-0ld Madie Flores

Under Construction

Helpers putting the finishing touches on the play house in Madie's backyard

Harry Miller holding VAI's drawings in front of the under construction play house

For more information and images of this special project, read press coverage of this story:

Make-A-Wish Foundation Blog

Grand Rapids Press article: Grand Rapids Builder is Crafting Dream Castle for Young Cancer Survivor

WMNU Story: Leukemia Survivor Gets Castle Built In Her Own Backyard

Kingston Residence

2011-08-08T15:44:00.006-04:00

Traditional Tudor styling blends with modern comfort and convenience. From the dramatic barrel-vaulted living room to the light-filled octagonal sun room, this well-appointed design includes a spectacular master suite, a gourmet kitchen with large pantry, even a charming potting shed. Stairs lead from the garage to the roomy lower level, where a multi-purpose recreation room includes a cozy fireplace and additional bedrooms.

Want to see more Tudor Style designs? Click here to view our architectural tutorial on the Tudor Style.

For more photos of this beautifully crafted home, please visit our website: www.visbeen.biz > gallery > residential projects > estates > kingston.

This home was built by DeHaan Homes.

Award-Winning Glen Mills Residence

2011-08-04T13:00:00.003-04:00

This custom-designed home, which recently won a 2011 American Residential Design Award from the AIBD, is reminiscent of the Tudor style, and was created to meet the needs of any homeowner. From extra garage space to entry lockers, to a main floor equipped for entertaining, the Glen Mills is a home that gracefully couples style with functionality.

The inviting front entry leads to the living room and hearth area. Pocket doors lead to the attached study, while columns separate the living room from the dining and kitchen areas. Ample counter space and seating make the kitchen the center of the home, and the ideal place for entertaining guests.

There is no lack of sleeping space, either. A large upstairs master suite includes a full bath, sitting area and walk-in closet. Also on the upper level are three guest bedrooms and a full guest bathroom.

This home was built by Infiniti Custom Homes.

To view more photos of this award-winning design, please visit our website: www.visbeen.biz > gallery > residential projects > american neighborhood > glen mills.

Bringing Home 8 ARDA Awards!

2011-08-01T09:19:00.008-04:00

At the American Residential Design Awards (ARDA) banquet, in conjunction with the American Institute of Building Design's 61st National Convention, held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI, Visbeen Associates took home 8 awards, including 7 first places. Forty-six awards in eleven categories were presented to talented recipients chosen from the 124 entries submitted from all over the country.

Take a look at our winning designs!

Duneside

1st Place - Model Homes

4,001 sq ft & above

Stockton

1st Place - Model Homes

2,501 - 4,000 sq ft

Kearney Hill

1st Place - Published Design

4,001 sq ft & above

Traverse

1st Place - Published Design