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As we worked to compile this Review, we had an

opportunity to reflect on this past year and what we

accomplished. 2012 was our 25th anniversary, but it

is 2013 that has set the stage for the next 25 years of

Rockford Construction.

This summer, we moved into our new home at 601

First Street. Rockford has a great group of creative

professionals, and our new office is an opportunity to

display our culture and talents to our clients and the

community. If you have not already toured our space,

I encourage you to do so. You will find the office is

a reflection of our commitment to Grand Rapids,

and an example of how Rockford is Building for a

Changing World.

All my best,

Mike VanGessel, CEO

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And our world is changing - fast. New improvements

in sustainability and technology, combined with shifts

in demographics and the global economy, have

brought about new ways of living and working. Our

new office illustrates our understanding of new trends,

technologies, and innovative construction techniques.

This understanding and our commitment to creativity,

innovation, and excellence will position Rockford to meet

the challenges of the next 25 years.

This year was truly a blessing for our team and our

company. For that, I thank our clients, subcontractors,

suppliers, and partners. On behalf of Rockford’s Board

of Directors, we are excited about the future of Rockford

Construction.

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ON THE COVER:

New Holland Brewing Development

MULTI-UNITPAGES 11 - 12

EDUCATIoNPAGES 13 - 14

INITIATIVESPAGES 3 - 4

REAL ESTATE & DEVELoPMENTPAGES 5 - 6

RETAILPAGE 15

TRADESPAGE 16

AWARDS PAGE 18

UPCoMINGPRoJECTSPAGE 17

WEST SIDEPAGES 9 - 10

HEALTHCAREPAGES 7 - 8

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A fully-integrated and highly-adaptable living

space system, URBANEER is designed for today’s

urban pioneer and tomorrow’s standard of

urban living. URBANEER was created by Rockford

to provide the optimization of compact living

spaces. The integrated products and technology

of URBANEER work together to provide space

optimization and convenience.

ADAPTABLEINFASTRUCTURE

URBANEER’s infrastructure features a movable

wall system to accommodate various uses of

a unit’s space. Users can expand, collapse, or

move elements to change the space to meet

their needs. URBANEER infrastructure is also built

with inductive power throughout - in furnishings

and across the floor - for wireless charging of

electronic devices.

INTEGRATEDFURNISHINGS &

TECHNOLOGY

The URBANEER system features furnishings and

technology that work together to support the

adaptability of the unit’s main infrastructure.

These furnishings include a hideaway wall bed

with sofa integration, a moveable island with

inductive power, and a digital interface with the

unit, building, and neighborhood via LP Connect.

URBANEER marks Rockford’s first venture into

patented, trademarked product development.

Two URBANEER units already exist within Living

@ 600 Douglas, with more units planned for The

Morton and for apartment complexes for other

developers. Rockford understands the need

to build for the changing world, which is why

URBANEER is flexible, adaptable, and supportive

of changing housing trends and lifestyles.

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IRIS, designed and developed by our in-house IT team,

is on-line project management software. This proprietary

system provides both our clients and our project team

with a dashboard of real-time information that supports

decision making and early identification of outstanding

items, thus preventing a slow in the construction process.

First Street offers small lease spaces to those focused

on bringing innovation to the built environment. The

innovation hub brings together both large and small,

local and international companies focused on product

development related to energy and construction.

Rockford created the hub by

LoWELL ENERGY ANAERoBIC DIGESTER

LOWELL, MICHIGAN

After three years of funding, developing, preconstruction, and planning,

Lowell Energy Anaerobic Digester (LEAD) is constructed and gearing up for

energy production. LEAD was developed by Sustainable Partners LLC (Spart),

with Lowell Light & Power as purchaser of the 800 kilowatts of electric power

the plant will produce.

LEAD was built within an existing building and will use up to 4,000 tons of cow manure from Swisslane Farms, 1.5 million

gallons of fats, oils and greases diverted from landfills, and up to 22.5 million gallons of liquid waste from Litehouse Foods

in Lowell.

The biodigester is the first in the United States to use the upflow, downflow, reflow technology from enco2. Rockford

and the project team also used an innovative tank construction method from Lipp, a German company. The tank was

created on-site by adding strips of steel to the bottom and spinning the whole tank upward in one long spiral.

FIRST STREETINNOVATING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

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Like most notable landmarks, The Morton’s history is rich

with seasons of great success and times of struggle.

Blueprinted by the same architects who designed the

Palmer House in Chicago, the 13-story structure was built

as The Morton Hotel more than ninety years ago, and

was considered to be the most luxurious hotel in the City.

As the local economy experienced highs and lows

throughout the next four decades, so did The Morton

Hotel. During that time it opened its doors to a variety

of tenants including the notorious Burleson Sanatorium

and later, a gentleman’s establishment called “The

Kitten Club.” Eventually the changing economy took its

toll, forcing The Morton Hotel to close its doors in 1970.

Rockford Development bought the property in 2011

after a 40-year U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development contract expired. Remediation work

began in 2014 to abate lead and asbestos from the

building, followed by demolition, window and roof

replacement, and exterior masonry work. Now, Rockford

is working to rebuild and create more than 100 market-

rate apartments and dynamic ground-level restaurant

and retail spaces.

Opening in 2015, the apartments will offer modern

amenities and spacious floor plans, while maintaining

the building’s structural integrity and unique historical

features.

With twelve stories of residential and mixed-use space,

The Morton will combine the convenience of City living

with the comfort of home; offering a truly distinguished

downtown living experience.

THE MoRToNINTEGRATED ARCHITECTUREGRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

DOWNTOWN LIVING. UPTOWN STYLE.

There is nothing Rockford Development loves more than

to breathe new life into an urban landmark. Rockford

Development partnered with Haworth to create Blue35,

a creative use for a downtown building that has been

empty since 2002.

The 64,000 sq. ft. building, which was built as a hotel in

1914 and then became a boarding house, has been

gutted and remodeled. An addition was also built to

accommodate the building’s main lobby, elevator,

and stairs. Rockford Construction had the challenge

of staging on a busy city corner, removing major earth

retention systems, and placing a tower crane during the

City’s ArtPrize® event.

Now known as Blue35, the building at 35 Oakes provides

unique coworking and conference space. With short and

long-term lease rates, tenants work independently but

share space and enjoy the synergy that can happen from

working alongside talented people from other companies.

Rockford Development provides on-site full-time program

management to care for member needs and customize

social, educational, and networking events.

Combining Haworth’s ability to create dynamic

work environments and technology with Rockford

Development’s experience in creating exciting urban

buildings, Blue35 represents a new approach to the

urban work environment.

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BLUE 35VIA DESIGN

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

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The 70,000 sq. ft. Mercy Health Rockford Campus opened

in October 2014. This regional care facility, centered in

the Rockford community, is an example of the shifting

paradigm in healthcare construction. For many years,

the sign of a strong healthcare system was full bed

counts in large, destination hospitals. Today, there is a

larger focus on wellness and preventative medicine, and

national trends are showing that more new healthcare

construction is taking place in community neighborhoods

to offer easier access to individualized care.

MERCY HEALTH RoCKfoRDINTEGRATED ARCHITECTURE

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN

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SHWEDEL DENTALSTUART J. FINE & ASSOCIATES, INC.ROCKFORD, MICHIGAN

Currently underway is a 99,403 sq. ft., three-phase

expansion of the Professional Office Building at Metro

Health. The project - which is targeted to achieve LEED

Certification - consists of a one-story addition to the

surgical suite located on the first floor of the existing

hospital building, as well as equipment storage, a

vendor entrance, changing rooms, new state-of-the-

art surgery lounge, male and female locker rooms,

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Rockford completed a 2,543 sq. ft. office addition

in Taylor, MI for Dr. Steven Shwedel. The project was

completed in two-phases - during which the existing

office remained occupied - and allowed for the

addition of a lab, three operatory rooms, and a

sterilization room.

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METRO HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING EXPANSIONINTEGRATED ARCHITECTUREROCKFORD, MICHIGAN

a seating area, dining room and kitchen area, a

conference room, and support spaces. Rockford is also

expanding the existing parking lot to accommodate

additional visitor and staff parking.

Through Rockford’s detailed safety and planning

protocol, the building has remained open and fully

operational throughout construction.

Ferris Coffee asked Rockford to help with a four phase project to increase

their production and customer spaces. The projects involved a cold storage

addition, garage addition, office renovation, and creation of a new café

and retail space to better serve the community.

FERRIS COFFEE & NUT INTEGRATED ARCHITECTURE

Harmony Brewing has turned a unique corner property into a first-class

restaurant and brewpub, the Brewery’s second location. Featuring a menu

with items inspired by the neighborhood and the building’s original use as

Rauser’s Sausage Factory, Harmony Brewing serves homemade sausages

from local Mexican, German, and Polish cultures of the West Side.

HARMONY BREWINGLOTT3METZ ARCHITECTURE

Rockford’s office complex at 601 First received LEED

Platinum level designation this fall. Catalyst Partners,

our neighbor on Second Street, worked with Rockford

and the design team to create the highest performing

building possible, as proven through this LEED

Platinum certification. Rockford’s other projects on

the West Side will also focus on energy conservation

and sustainable design.

601 FIRST STREETINTEGRATED ARCHITECTURE

Trovati is a retail/e-commerce office/studio space that is part of the First

Street innovation hub. Owned by Paula Murphy, the e-commerce company

features one-of-a-kind items from around the world that cannot be procured

anywhere else – everything from household items and furniture to gourmet

foods and clothing. Trovati seeks to redefine the shopping experience by

curating brands of high quality and exceptional craftsmanship.

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The West Side’s first new housing development in almost two decades opened

in 2014. Bringing 18 ultra-modern apartments to the neighborhood, Living

@ 600 Douglas replaced an abandoned warehouse-style building on an

otherwise residential street. The development is home to an ecelectic mix of

residents, from empty-nesters that want an urban lifestyle to college students

and young professionals.

LIVING @ 600 DOUGLASINTEGRATED ARCHITECTURE

Design and planning are underway for the New Holland Brewing building,

which will occupy the block of Bridge Street between Broadway and Turner

Avenues. Rockford’s development will feature commercial and residential

space, while New Holland Brewing will include a new taproom, restaurant,

and brewing and distilling operations. The project will have an enormous

impact on the neighborhood, not only visually but also economically as New

Holland officials say they expect to bring about 150 jobs to the new location.

NEW HOLLAND BREWINGGMB ARCHITECTS + ENGINEERS

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A unique design of separate buildings surrounding a community courtyard,

Living @ 600 Douglas is a community within a community. Sitting on only

four-tenths of an acre, the modern, 15,000 sq. ft. complex has three two-

story buildings and one three-story building, nestled in the Stockbridge

neighborhood. Each building offers a mix of apartment styles to suit a wide

variety of tenants.

LIVING @ 600 DoUGLASINTEGRATED ARCHITECTUREGRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

COMMUNITY WITHIN A COMMUNITY

Starting with the 23rd floor and working down, Rockford

has been working throughout 2014 to renovate the

tower of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Beautiful,

high-end finishes and furnishings now grace the 261

tower guest rooms, 24 hospitality and specialty suites,

and the corridors. The end result is a modern and chic

design Amway’s guests will truly enjoy.

AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HoTELGOOCH DESIGNGRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

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GENESIS WESTDESTIGTER ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNINGGRANDVILLE, MICHIGAN

A housing development for Genesis Non-Profit

Housing Corporation was completed in 2014, in

order to provide affordable housing for income-

qualified individuals with special needs. The

development includes ten separate buildings with

a total of thirty-three living units, multiple storage

buildings, and a community building.

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AQUINAS COLLEGE ALKSNIS ATHLETICS & RECREATION BUILDINGINTEGRATED ARCHITECTUREGRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

Named after lead donors Greg (’71) and Sally Alksnis, the Alksnis

Athletics and Recreation Building completes the College’s

athletic complex. Rockford completed the Sturrus Sports and

Fitness Center in 2010, and now this second phase opened for

student athlete use in October 2014. The 70,000 sq. ft. offers a

great venue for students to play, practice, and compete, with

a 200-meter NCAA-certified track, a turf infield with portable

courts for multiple uses, and an extensive curtaining system for

concurrent indoor practices and track events.

PLAY. PRACTICE. COMPETE.

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AQUINAS COLLEGE STUDENT HOUSINGPROGRESSIVE AEGRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLSGMB ARCHITECTS + ENGINEERSLAKEVIEW, MICHIGAN

Rockford’s second student housing project for

Aquinas College opened in August 2014. Each brand

new apartment-style suite features a full kitchen and

common area. Suites feature either four bedrooms

and two full baths, or two bedrooms with one bath.

The building itself is three stories high with a fully built

out lower level for a total of four floors of suites.

Lakeview Community Schools’ 2013 bond program

provided the opportunity for many district-wide

improvements, including security entrances, new

windows and doors, and technology upgrades. In

time to open for the 2014-15 school year, Rockford

built additions to the former Bright Start Elementary

building, which provided 9 more classrooms and a new

gymnasium and allowed for elementary consolidation.

Work continues as upgrades in technology, HVAC

controls, and infrastructure are made at the Middle

School and High School, and the old elementary

building is demolished.

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Completed in 2014, the Merrillville store was

the first in the U.S. to receive the new Verizon

prototype design and graphics package. As a

first phase, Rockford renovated a vacant tenant

space and then moved Verizon Wireless into

the space. After the neighboring space was

renovated, the wall dividing the space was

removed to open the fully completed remodel.

Rockford worked with the Verizon team to

ensure that business was not affected during

the remodel.

VERIZON WIRELESSEXCEL ENGINEERING INC.MERRILLVILLE, IN

DESIGN AND GRAPHICS

BLOOMIN’ BRANDSCONCEPT DESIGN

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

Rockford Trades worked closely with the Wege

Foundation and family members during the build-out

to create the Foundation’s new offices. From design

through to finishes, the Foundation team stayed

actively involved. The 4,000 sq. ft. space includes all

of the latest Steelcase furniture, including treadmills in

two of the offices, a “living wall” system, up-to-date IT

capabilities, and modern finishes throughout.

WEGE FOUNDATION OFFICESELEVATE STUDIO

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

Bloomin’ Brands is one of the nation’s largest casual

dining companies, and Rockford began working

for the brand in 2013. To date, Rockford Trades has

remodeled five Bonefish Grills, one Carrabba’s Italian

Grill, and 40 Outback Steakhouses. Two new Bonefish

Grills and two new Carrabba’s Italian Grill were built

in 2013 and 2014. Rockford Trades’ team travels to

the locations in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and

New Jersey and provides efficient carpentry and

subcontractor management to quickly help the

restaurant serve its customers.

GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM PLANETARIUM RENOVATIONGRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGANROI DESIGN

The original Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium was built

in the early 1990’s and was still using carousel slide

projectors. After receiving an educational grant

from the Wege Foundation, the Public Museum

proceeded with an update and refresh of the

original space, including a digital projector system,

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coordinated LED lighting, new seating, acoustic panels,

and a digital surround sound system. During the design

phase, Rockford, ROI Design, and the Public Museum

coordinated with GVSU nursing students to evaluate

design decisions so as not to affect people with special

needs, autism, or disabilities. The end result is a space

that is welcoming to all.

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TANGER OUTLETSA new 80-store Tanger Outlet

center in Byron Center will open

in 2015. This project, which will

consist of ten buildings in total,

will be Tanger’s third location in

Michigan and will feature food

vendors, a children’s play area,

and two 65-foot towers with a

waterfall at the main entrance.

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WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CENTERA 172,014 sq. ft. warehouse

in Benton Harbor is under

renovation to become a high-

tech research and development

center for Whirlpool Corporation.

The transformed facility will house

Whirlpool’s Refrigeration Product

Development Center when it

opens later this year.

HILLSDALE COLLEGE SEARLE CENTERWith extensive interior and

exterior renovations, the Curtiss

Dining Hall and Phillips Auditorium

will open as part of the new Searle

Center in 2015. The expansion

will add over 24,000 sq. ft. to

the dining hall and auditorium,

increasing capacity to 850 and

800 respectively.

MARY fREE BED YMCAThe Mary Free Bed YMCA will

move its current location into

a newly-built 122,856 sq. ft.

branch, upon completion in the

fall 2015. The new building will

replace the existing 30,000 sq.

ft. facility, allowing the YMCA to

offer a wider range of services

including a farm and a healthy

living center.

STRYKER CORPORATE OFFICESStryker Corporation is expanding

the company’s corporate offices

on Romence Road in Portage, MI

by an additional 82,335 sq. ft. This

project follows the 96,000 sq. ft.

renovation completed for Stryker

by Rockford in 2011.

PLEASANT PRoSPECT HoMESFifteen buildings are being

constructed for residential

housing along Lafayette and

Cass Avenues in Grand Rapids.

The project, which also entails

the demolition of existing

structures and landscaping, is

Phase III of the Pleasant Prospect

Homes which will be completed

early 2015.

CoCoNUT PoINT SENIoR LIVING CoMMUNITYRockford is working in Estero,

Florida to construct a new three-

story senior living facility. The

project, which will be built on 13.85

acres, will total 174,000 sq. ft. and

include 194 units of independent

living, assisted living, and memory

care.

GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN MIDDLE SCHooL Grand Rapids Christian

Middle School will relocate

approximately 450 middle school

students to the former Grand

Rapids Public Schools’ Shawnee

Campus, upon the completion

of building renovations in summer

2015. The building, which has

been vacant for more than a

year, sits on 11 acres.

Renovation has begun of the

former Klingman Building on

Ionia Avenue in downtown Grand

Rapids. Rockford is working with

LC Companies to renovate the

warehouse into 83 apartments

with first-floor retail and elevated

parking.

KLINGMAN LOFTS

ArtPrize® is a radically open, independently organized

international art competition held annually in downtown

Grand Rapids. One of the annually most-anticipated

venues for ArtPrize®, SiTE:LAB creates temporary site-

specific art projects aimed at facilitating dynamic

collaborations between the art, design, education,

business and cultural communities of Grand Rapids.

This year, SiTE:LAB took over three floors of The Morton,

Rockford’s building at 72 Monroe Center for their venue.

The grand lobby, basement and bank vault, one of

the ballrooms, and other spaces showcased the site-

specific installations curated by Paul Amenta. And for

a third year, SiTE:LAB won the outstanding venue juried

award. Rockford’s team worked alongside the SiTE:LAB

team and their artists to create a venue that was also

a work of art, pausing renovation during ArtPrize® and

displaying the former Morton Hotel to the public for the

first time in decades.

The unique spaces in the Morton were able to inspire

the 13 artists, along with more than 50,000 visitors to the

space throughout the 19 days of ArtPrize®.

SITE: LABGRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

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After ten years on Engineering

News-Record’s list of Top 400

Contractors, Rockford is again

on the list but now falls within the

top 200 contractors in the nation for 2014. Engineering

News-Record ranked Rockford #197 on the national top

contractor list, #98 on the national Top 100 Construction

Management-at-Risk Firms list, and #24 on the Midwest

Top Contractors list.

ARTPRIZE oUTSTANDING VENUE

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