When construction is completed on the Stryker Instruments building (foreground), it will be physically connected to their current building (background) by an open-air walkway.

Stryker Only a Few Months Away From The “Big" Move

Project Overview

Location: Portage, Michigan
Project Type: New Construction
Square Footage: 200,000

CSM Project Director: Curt Petersen

Owner’s Rep.: Jim Sweeney,
Director of Facility Development

Architect: Paula Van Valkenburgh, Eckert Wordell

Completion Date: January, 2006

In a few short months, a large portion of the staff at Stryker, Instruments Division, in Portage will shift operations from their old manufacturing plant to their attractive, new 200,000-squarefoot building. Total distance between the two facilities: about the length of a football field. "Instead of turning left from the driveway and into the old parking lot, employees will simply turn right and into the new one," says Curt Petersen, Project Director at CSM Group.

The new facility, which has a slightly smaller footprint than the old, is comprised of six light-assembly manufacturing pods, each averaging about 60' x 150' in size, and about 70 offices, lobby, fitness center and cafeteria, all flanking the factory floor. The office area for support staff and executives is a large, open space with "capped" private offices grouped together between open offices equipped with modular furniture. The assembly floor aisles continue into the office area, allowing the support staff direct access to the factory floor.

A distinctive feature is the building's 400-foot-long, open-air, covered walkway, which will extend virtually the entire length between the two facilities. This will form a physical connection between the new building and the existing one, which will become the division's Research and Development Center, and protect staff members from the elements as they commute back and forth. According to Paula Van Valkenburgh, architect and project manager for Eckert Wordell, "In addition, a large berm was built along the property's western edge to block the wind and further protect staff members."

A large earth berm will protect workers from westerly winds as they commute between the new and existing buildings along this 400-foot-long walkway.

Simplicity and functionality are building's hallmarks

VanValkenburgh adds that the new building was designed to promote optimum efficiency and provide a comfortable work atmosphere, while meeting both current and future expansion needs. The exterior finishes establish visual continuity by mimicking the brick base and metal panel siding of the existing building. Large expanses of curtainwall glazing will flood the interior space with natural light, while a courtyard accessible from the cafeteria will provide a direct connection with the outdoors.

According to Petersen, the project was divided into two phases. Phase I consisted of site development and the structural package, which involved the installation of footings and foundation, structural steel columns, girders, joists and decking. Phase II included the balance of the project and involved installation of the mechanical and electrical systems and interiors.

Stryker benefits from CSM Group's value engineering

During design-development, which began in May of 2004, Petersen and CSM Group learned a great deal about Stryker and their corporate culture. "It was during our weekly meetings that I learned Stryker preferred a simplistic approach. And when you look around, it becomes apparent in most everything they do in the products they manufacture, the services they provide, and in the buildings they build. In other words, they never overbuild a structure; they build it to meet a specific function."

With that in mind, Petersen offered critical and essential value-engineering. "It started out as a two-level building. The office portion was designed for two floors. To match that height, the manufacturing portion of the structure would have 30' high ceilings. The interior would have felt cavernous. We helped the owner recognize the potential cost exposure in material and labor he was facing. That's when the building became a single-level conventional steel structure with 22' high ceilings throughout. This reduced construction costs by as much as 30%.

Six light-assembly manufacturing pods are separated by aisles that continue into office areas to allow staff direct access to the factory floor.

Jim Sweeney, Director of Facility Development for Stryker, says:

"I've been involved with construction projects since 1981 in the Kalamazoo area, as well as projects in Ireland, Puerto Rico, Canada, California and Tennessee. And I have to say that CSM Group is head and shoulders above other construction managment firms. "

Curt Petersen is extremely professional, as is Project Manager Scott Comerford. I can't say enough good things about them. Scott even developed his own schedule; he didn't work off someone else's. That greatly impressed me and helped keep everything on track and running smoothly."

According to Petersen, this project may have been a total team effort but Sweeney was clearly the captain of the team. "He allowed ideas to flow back and forth, and we achieved a high level of communications. As work progressed from design to actual construction, everyone was definitely on the same page."

Sweeney concurs: "I enjoy a team setting. That way everyone works hard and has a good time along the way."

The new 200,000-square-foot facilitiy (right) will replace the current manufacturing facility (left), which will eventually become the division's R&D Center.