From years of shared workspaces to a place of its very own -- Clark Communications makes the leap

For most of its nine years, Clark Communications has shared workspaces with other creatives in order to minimize financial strain and maximize collaboration with like-minded individuals. And now, banking on the growth of the communications firm and the addition of a second employee, owner Craig Clark is ready to move the company out on its own to the ultra-modern 38 Commerce.

Clark began the company in his Rockford home, then relocated to a downtown Rockford space. After about a year, he saw the need to be in Grand Rapids, so he set up shop at 25 Ottawa Ave. SW with Mark Bird of Bird Design and David Maxam of Maxam Architecture. Two years later he moved to the MoBevy co-working space with some half-dozen other companies, and has been at 131 S. Division for the past two years with Media Place Partners.

"My firm handled PR for Locus Development when they were constructing 38," Clark says. "I joked with John (Green) and Andy (Winkel) that I'd love to have an office there, but I never thought it would happen. This is sort of a dream for me."

Some 1,100 square feet of raw concrete and unfinished walls on the fourth floor overlooks Weston St. and Grand Rapids' north skyline. It will soon be a welcoming environment of two enclosed offices, open workstations, casual lounge areas, and a kitchenette.

"For the first time ever, I'll have my own office," Clark says with a laugh after recalling that his first office was next to his family's living room. Then he jokes, "I'm going to bring in my drum set and dartboard -- it will be the dorm room I've never had."

While the new space will have a fresh, clean aesthetic, Clark says he'll reference the historic buildings he's worked in to try to harness their warmth and appeal.

Mark Schaafsma Design Build has construction underway. Clark hopes to move in by the end of the year.

Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of Clark Communications