In 1987, Rockford Construction’s CEO, Mike VanGessel, started the company with a vision to assist in the revitalization of Grand Rapids through philanthropy, strategic local partnerships, and community engagement. In the 35+ subsequent years, Rockford has made significant investment in the city, breathing new life into neighborhoods and serving as a catalyst for continued growth.
Our commitment to making things better, safer, more versatile and sustainable has reached farther than Grand Rapids and West Michigan. Throughout our history, we have been involved with the City of Detroit’s revitalization as well. Rockford’s commitment continues to be steadfast and transformational, contributing to our vision of Building a Better World.
For 35 years, we have been proud to serve the City of Detroit. In that time, we have successfully completed hundreds of millions in projects. And in 2017, to further help us fulfill our mission of developing, building and managing spaces that make a positive impact on our team, our clients and the community, we officially opened our Detroit office in the Central Business District.
Since its inception, Rockford’s Detroit team has executed several high-visibility projects, such as Rivertown Market on Jefferson Avenue, Wilson Hall at Oakland University, and the Hotel St. Regis, as well as exciting current projects like the historic renovation of 2529 Orleans in Eastern Market (also Rockford Detroit’s future home), the Gateway Theater at Wayne State University, and the Macomb County Sheriff’s Boathouse.
Rockford is proud to play a part in Detroit’s recent “renaissance” and support our local team of Detroit and metro-Detroit residents. We are a skilled construction management firm eager to provide the highest level of service to those who are actively investing in the transformation and development of the City. A dedicated office in Detroit allows Rockford to provide its hallmark of exceptional service and high-quality project execution to not only Southeast Michigan, but the entire state.
The Detroit team is dynamic by definition. We are agile, innovative problem solvers, and proud to be working in Detroit! Our team is a trusted household name and we often wear many hats, with everyone jumping in to accomplish the task at hand, as part of the larger effort of accomplishing that goal.
We embrace our values of “Win as a Team,” “Do the Right Thing,” and “Build Strength Through Diversity” to provide unparalleled transparent and genuine service to our clients – both in the office and on the job site – and within the community. Both regionally and corporately, Rockford is committed to the local community, with passionate team members who believe in the inherent importance of giving back.
In addition to supporting the construction of beautiful new buildings or renovations in and around Southeast Michigan, the Rockford Detroit team often spends time giving back to our community. Like most Detroiters, our local team is passionate about our community, and many of our team have a particular passion for youth development. Many teammates utilize their volunteer time off (VTO) to support local organizations, and jointly, our Rockford team has volunteered at a local elementary school, Academy of the Americas. Rockford has also supported several local organizations, including RIM Foundation; Boys Hope, Girls Hope; Jalen Rose Leadership Academy; and Playworks Michigan. In the future, we will continue to build upon the foundation of community service we have laid.
As Rockford has had a hand in the growth of several communities thus far, we are proud to be part of the continued growth within the Detroit market along with its community. Additionally, our move from our existing Detroit office into our new Eastern Market office space at 2529 Orleans this summer will allow us to serve and help transform this great city even further. We will continue to provide the highest level of service to our clients and the community to ensure that, like this city that we love, we continue to grow and build a better world.
