Description
Fryling Construction heads a historic rehabilitation project on the 20,000 square foot LEED Certified renovation/build-out of an old Anheuser Busch Icehouse for the Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s new home. The historic building known as the Icehouse is located at 72 Grandville Ave. SW in downtown Grand Rapids.
The icehouse was originally one of a network of rail-side refrigerated warehouses Anheuser-Busch built to cool cars of beer that were being shipped long distances. It's one of only two Anheuser-Busch icehouses still standing. The building was previously owned by Chemical Products, which had operated out of the building for more than 40 years.
"It was a great old building to purchase because most of the unknowns of a renovation have been more or less dealt with or uncovered," says project manager Curt Mulder, "They cleaned the building up and reduced it to its original barebones structure. So the surprises have really been limited."
The building's historic features include the familiar eagle-adorned Anheuser-Busch logos carved in terracotta tile, a hayloft, a cobblestone courtyard, stable doors, and the original cupola that was used for ventilation, which the foundation plans to preserve. The building has a basement and two floors, but it has seven different floor levels because originally the lot was three buildings that were later adjoined.
The foundation intends to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for the building, most likely LEED Silver certification.