Awards and Honors

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre (2007)

The revitalization of the downtown Grand Rapids area took another healthy leap forward with the renovation of the Civic Theatre, the largest community theatre in Michigan and second largest in the U.S.  Feyen Zylstra provided their expertise during the largest phase of this renovation.  The 102 year-old historic structure is mostly brick and mortar, so the layout and routing of the new electrical infrastructure had to be carefully planned out prior to the construction of new walls and passages. Over 50,000 feet of conduit and 250,000 feet of wire and cable were installed, and lighting control circuits installed in numerous locations, ranging from under the stage to the second-floor dimming cabinet and theatre control console. The project schedule was only 6 months, but it was met. And up to 750 theater-goers enjoy the results every night!

Spectrum Health Data Center (2006)

Critical work and a two-month window added to the challenges of installing the low voltage infrastructure of this bunker-like facility off the Spectrum campus. To provide the 1,900 man-hours required, Feyen Zylstra implemented two five-man crews working separate shifts. The day crew constructed all the racks and cable pathways, and pulled all the cable. The night crew focused on the terminations. The job’s Foreman and Project Manager overlapped their schedules to ensure that both crews were working in unison. Redundant routing required both underground and overhead cabling, with nothing allowed to hang from the ceiling. In all, over 3,240 10-Gig cables were installed in a room of only 2,200 square feet. In total, 51,840 wires were terminated.  This was one of Michigan’s first installations of 10 Gig Category 6 cable.

Meijer Corporate Offices (2006)

The goal: install a high-speed Category 6 cable to over 1,800 workstations in just 13 weeks. Our Communications group had an average of 10 technicians working 40-hour weeks, all between 5 PM and 7 AM to avoid disrupting the Meijer work staff. Each workstation featured modular furniture without appropriate cable pathways; Feyen Zylstra dealt with that by installing a unique raceway system along the tops of panels, rather than the floor; each section was cut to match the panel, allowing it to easily “come along” if the panel was relocated. In all, over 275,000 ft. of Category 6 cable was installed, with 28,800 wires terminated and tested. Meijer ITS Network Services personnel were very pleased with the quality and efficient installation, and the smooth transitioning of each station to the new cable.

Spectrum Health - Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center (2005)

The Communications group was proud to take on the roll of installing the voice, data and fiber optic cabling for the buildings infrastructure.  The building consists of (19) closets with a redundant fiber optic loop connecting each closet to others and also to the existing Data Center in the Butterworth facility.  Every patient bed, chart station, nurse station and surgical room in the facility is joined together by over 5,400 connections. Aside from constructing a nine-story facility in a confined and bustling downtown atmosphere, great care and coordination had to be given to connecting the new building with minimal disruption to patients and critical systems in the adjoining facility.

Spectrum Health - Blodgett Campus (2004)

The Communications group upgraded Blodgett's entire cabling structure.  The project team worked in all occupied areas of the hospital, including the intensive care unit, emergency, and patient rooms.  Another challenge was lack of ceiling space for the cable runs, since the 1916 building was built prior to a modern hospital's many operational systems.  Judge's comments included "Pictures of project should be used in training books to show how an installation should be completed."

Spectrum Health - Butterworth Campus (2000)

The Communications group at Feyen Zylstra installed 290 miles of cable for this project. The cable connects over 7000 locations to the facility’s network. Work was done on all shifts to prevent service interruption of critical areas such as emergency room, surgery and medical records and with minimal impact on patients and staff.

Van Andel Institute (1999)

This $4.1 million project was challenging because of its size, and also because of the nature of the building. In order to successfully operate, this research facility needed interruption-free operation of computer systems, temperature control, and sterilization systems.

YWCA (1995)

The challenge for this project was renovating and remodeling a historic building while it continued its day-to-day operations. Power and communication services were required at all times throughout the building, even as particular sections or entire floors were gutted of walls, ceilings, and mechanical systems.

Gordon Foods Service (1993)

Some of the light fixtures and conduits for this project were installed at heights of 96 feet, during the middle of winter. Judges comments included the following: "This is a real showpiece of how an electrical system should be installed. Very impressed with the conduit runs – highly professional! Motor controls/stations well laid out."

United Parcel Service (1992)

Feyen Zylstra worked with the design team to test, finesse, and redesign all engineering plans prior to construction, making for an incredibly smooth project. Judges comments included the following: "Very impressive project. The contractor was involved in several unique solutions to difficult job-site problems. I was very impressed with the fact that a single contractor could install a system of this sophistication which involves both power and controls."