LEED – The Wege Foundation

Grand Rapids Achieves Emerging 2030 District Designation in Effort to Reduce Energy Use in Downtown

April 24, 2015April 24, 2015Environment

Private, public partnership working toward final designation from Architecture 2030 by end of year Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell today announced Grand Rapids has been named an Emerging 2030 District by Architecture 2030, an effort designed to reduce energy use in the downtown, and putting it on track to become an … More Grand Rapids Achieves Emerging 2030 District Designation in Effort to Reduce Energy Use in Downtown »

Greens to Green: Golfing for Sustainability

June 18, 2014October 8, 2014Education, Environment

What begins as a fun day of golf at Blythefield Country Club ends up producing stellar young men like new Aquinas graduate Brendan Molony. Brendan represents the many outstanding Aquinas scholarship students who get vital financial help from the donors who play in the annual Peter … More Greens to Green: Golfing for Sustainability »

Habitat Owners Earn Their New Homes

April 1, 2013September 2, 2014Community Service

In 2006 Peter M. Wege’s environmental vision led to the nation’s first Habitat Home awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. That was just the beginning. As Habitat Kent’s Director Barbara Benda, says, “It has been an incredible journey of ecology, economy and social justice ever since Mr. … More Habitat Owners Earn Their New Homes »

FARM FOOD? FAMILY FUN? FIND THE DOWNTOWN MARKET

March 1, 2013May 30, 2017Community Service, Environment

After years of dreaming, discussing, and designing, a farmer’s market for the inner city is now happening. Seven abandoned warehouses on a city block bordered by Ionia, Logan, Wealthy, and 131 have been replaced by a soaring structure of recycled wood and concrete. From 131, the Market will be recognized … More FARM FOOD? FAMILY FUN? FIND THE DOWNTOWN MARKET »

GRPS’s Blandford School Raises the Bar

February 22, 2013May 30, 2017Education

Pictured above, the new 7,000 square-foot LEED-certified Blandford School sets a precedent for the Grand Rapids Public Schools. Not only does it feature the latest advancements in green building, Blandford also sets a new financing standard. With the lead $1.5 million gift from The Wege Foundation and other private donors … More GRPS’s Blandford School Raises the Bar »

Blandford School: A GRPS Gamechanger

May 15, 2012September 2, 2014Education

An historic groundbreaking took place in May marking the first public school in Grand Rapids to be built with 90% of the $2 million-plus cost coming from the private sector. The new Blandford School will open early in 2013 welcoming 60 GRPS sixth-graders to the nature school’s first permanent home. … More Blandford School: A GRPS Gamechanger »

May 5 The New and Improved Fulton Street Farmers Market Opens Up

January 30, 2012September 23, 2014Community Service, Environment

Talk about raising the roof! Grand Rapids’ popular Fulton Street Farmers Market is undergoing a $2.7 million upgrade converting it into a year-around enterprise. In three months, the snows of winter adorning the construction site will be replaced by fruits of spring when the Market opens the first Saturday in … More May 5 The New and Improved Fulton Street Farmers Market Opens Up »

New GRAM Leader Having Fun Already

August 2, 2011September 2, 2014Arts & Culture

Dana Friis-Hansen left his job as Executive Director of the Austin Museum of Art this summer to take over as CEO of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. In an interesting confluence of art museums, GRAM’s new chief executive will be both exhibitor and presenter during this fall’s ArtPrize. Among the … More New GRAM Leader Having Fun Already »

Generosity In G.R. Makes $62 Million Kroc Happen

April 2, 2010September 2, 2014Community Service, Environment

When Ray Kroc first started selling McDonald’s hamburgs in Chicago, he was impressed by the dedication of Salvation Army members ringing bells on the Windy City’s frozen street to raise money for needy families. He couldn’t know his little business would turn into an empire, but generous from the get-go, … More Generosity In G.R. Makes $62 Million Kroc Happen »

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Tag: LEED