Behind The Design:

Lighthouse Insurance Headquarters

Modern office interior featuring a wooden staircase with black metal railings and wooden handrails, surrounded by wooden beams and ceiling with exposed ducts. The space has gray carpeted floors, planters with green plants at the base of the stairs, open workspaces with desks and chairs, and seating areas with couches near large windows letting in natural light.

Lighthouse Insurance Headquarters in Downtown Grand Rapids

The space became the beacon of the statewide insurance company, tying in Lighthouse symbolism, and creating a fresh, modern workspace.

Interior designer, Emily Vanderlaan and architectural designer, Nathan Funk led the overhaul of the 30,000 sq. ft. space. Substantial changes to the two floors were necessary in order to achieve the new office culture Lighthouse desired.

Modern office interior showing a white wall with raised silver letters spelling 'Lighthouse Group,' wood beams, exposed ducts on the ceiling, a reception desk, and seating area with sofas and chairs.

The two separate levels of the building were unified by cutting an opening in the floor to create a new "feature" staircase, which would act as the visual connector. This new circulation path enabled the two floors to feel like one office, atmospherically joining them. Several of the existing interior walls on each floor were removed, and several walls were replaced with glass partitions and glass sliding doors, allowing the entire office to enjoy the natural light and views of downtown Grand Rapids.

Modern office space with an open layout, featuring a wooden meeting table surrounded by five white mesh chairs with red seats; a geometric wall decoration with red, gray, and navy shapes is mounted on an exposed brick wall, and workstations with computers and office chairs are visible in the background under a white ceiling with recessed lighting.

Modern office space with a long white desk surrounded by white ergonomic chairs on wheels, wooden columns, exposed ceiling pipes, brick walls, and white cabinets with a colorful geometric patterned backsplash.

“We know the building well,” says Nathan. Located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Beene Garter building, the space is connected to Via Design’s office and home to another renovation project that Via completed, the Beene Garter offices. “We knew we could highlight the beauty of the existing building features and provide Lighthouse a modern design that achieved their operational and cultural needs.”

A thorough programming exercise with the Lighthouse staff helped the Via team uncover the company's needs early in the design process so that creative solutions could be presented prior to demolition and initial design studies.

Modern office lounge with two light blue armchairs, two white oval coffee tables with metal bases, a small plant, exposed brick wall, large windows, and a view into a workspace with a desk and monitor.

Modern open office space with wooden beams and ceiling, a central stairwell with black metal railing, a plaid upholstered bench, a small round white table, and workstations with chairs in the background.

Modern office lounge area with a curved gray sofa, round white tables, blue and white patterned chairs, exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and a wall-mounted TV.

For many of Via’s commercial projects, the modern workspace involves utilizing technology to create a space that fosters creativity and collaboration. Emily presented the latest office furniture and product innovations by hosting the Lighthouse group at the NeoCon 2018 show. The team needed to coordinate workstations for each of the approximately 110 relocated employees. Via partnered with Marx Moda (now Trellis) for the workstations, ancillary furniture, and also with CLEO, for the cabinetry furniture.

Modern, spacious office lounge with high ceilings, large windows, round LED ceiling lights, and wood flooring, featuring tall tables with blue stools and a long table with mixed-color chairs near windows.

“They wanted a space where departments would cross paths, instead of being closed off from one another,” explains Emily. Touchdown spaces and privacy enclaves were installed, but open workstations occupy the majority of the space.

“Since moving into the space they’ve already had success with branches of their office collaborating in new ways,” continues Emily. “Their new home has created space for expected, and unexpected collaboration.”

Modern office lounge area with two gray swivel lounge chairs and a small round table between them, in front of a light wooden shelf against a blue wall, featuring decorative items and plants.

Contemporary office space with a tall white table surrounded by wooden stools with dark blue legs, hanging light bulbs above, and a large chalkboard on a brick wall displaying 'Let's connect' with event details.

See Lighthouse Insurance Headquarters