Custer wraps up phase one of three in Grandville Ave. HQ renovation project

Furniture dealer Custer is known in its industry for over 30 years of innovative workplace design, so why not update its own corporate headquarters to show it? 

On the heels of completing the first in three phases of renovation at 217 Grandville Ave. SW, Chief Operations Officer Todd Custer says the remodel was inspired by the surrounding neighborhood, which has seen increasing new development in the past few years. 

"The area is becoming more of a retail location, more of a walking area, where traffic is getting a little bit heavier and they've done a good job of beautifying the street and the area around here so it's kind of up-and-coming," he says. "The entrance area and the windows...a lot of people are looking so we wanted to really show what we do and what we do well is that type of environment."

Renovations on Custer's 10,000-square-foot first floor started in late October of last year. Custer says the building was purchased by the furniture dealers in 2004, when they moved into the first and second floors and began leasing the third and fourth. 

New first floor features, including updated designs for a more flexible workplace, as well as more effective technology integration like high-definition video conference rooms and other audio-visual upgrades, are planned for phase two and three of the renovation on its second floor, as well. Phase two and three of the project are expected to begin later this month and final completion of the space will wrap up in early 2016. 

"We've got about 80 employees on the first and second (floors), but we've never really done anything from an infrastructure standpoint," Custer says. "A lot of our business is furniture but now it's also interior cabinetry and interior construction for custom applications, as well as a lot of technology integration and audio-visual solutions. We really didn't showcase a lot of the expertise we have and we wanted to really show that and do a better job of telling our story that way." 

The renovations are an effort to not only showcase the best and brightest of Custer's innovations, but also to provide a workspace for its employees that is based around an idea Custer calls "power of place." 

"It's the whole wellness aspect of your work environment and getting up and moving around and using different types of spaces and having alternative settings to go utilize, whether its more lounge type settings or sit-stand settings – it's all about mixing wellness into your space and providing an inspiring workplace." 

For more information about Custer, visit www.custeronline.com.

By Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of Custer