Orion Construction and CWD Real Estate recently revealed the construction progress of the transformation that is underway at 111 Lyon NW – a landmark historic office-to-residential conversion in downtown Grand Rapids and the first project of its kind in Michigan.
Nine months into construction, the former 95,025-square-foot office building (recognized by many as the Fifth Third building) is well on its way to becoming 140 modern one- and two-bedroom apartments, while preserving lower-floor office space for long-term tenants, including Fifth Third Bank. The project is a major step in bringing more housing, vibrancy, and adaptive reuse to the city core, with completion expected in spring/summer 2026 and leasing applications opening this winter.
Orion’s construction crews have been demolishing each of the seven floors since the renovation project kicked off in March.
“Keeping the dust levels down, the noise levels down, protecting the tenants while they’re actually working in the building — it’s a lot to manage,” said Jeff Smigielski, vice president of construction logistics at Orion Construction, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press.
The project is about 65% complete.
A majority of the progress has been made on the building’s eighth floor, where apartments feature vinyl wood-grain floors, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a bird’s-eye view of downtown.
When complete, the space will have 105 one-bedroom apartments and 35 two-bedroom apartments, and include amenities, such as a pool, pickleball court, sauna, golf and race car simulators, a putting-green, gym and more.
“January 15 is the target lease-up date. We have a waiting list right now,” Sam Cummings, CWD Real Estate Investment managing partner told FOX 17. “To provide this kind of thing is, again, it’s incredibly gratifying.”
Twenty-eight of the 140 apartments will be income restricted. Those units will be reserved for individuals and families earning less than 100% of Kent County’s Area Median Income, which equates to an annual income of $70,500.
“It’s amazing to get through the demo stage and see this whole space finally open up,” Smigielski told WZZM 13. “We can kind of visualize and see what the final space is going to be.”
More about the 111 Lyon NW construction project in the media:
Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: $30M downtown Grand Rapids office conversion nears leasing milestone
FOX 17: INSIDE LOOK: Construction transforms downtown Grand Rapids tower into apartments
MLive: Developer likens massive office to apartment project to ‘building the plane while it’s flying’
WGVU: Grand Rapids office-to-housing project revitalizes landmark Fifth Third Bank building
WZZM 13: Longtime Grand Rapids office building converted into apartments
