Grand Rapids celebrates grand opening of New Public Service Center

Grand Rapids celebrates grand opening of New Public Service Center

Published on December 16, 2025

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - City officials, staff, and community members gathered today to celebrate the grand opening of the new Grand Rapids Public Service Center, a $98.2 million investment that consolidates key City operations into a single, modern and sustainable facility.

The ribbon cutting ceremony, held at 1500 Scribner Ave. NW, featured remarks from City leaders and project stakeholders, followed by tours of the 323,290-square-foot campus and light refreshments.

"This facility is a game-changer for how we serve the people of Grand Rapids," said Mayor David LaGrand. "It brings together critical departments, improves efficiency, and reflects our commitment to sustainability, equity and innovation. It provides a healthier, more collaborative environment for our employees and includes public meeting spaces that make it easier for residents to engage with City services. This facility is designed to support both the people who work here and the people we serve."

The new Public Service Center is now home to the City's Public Works, Fleet and Facilities, and Parks and Recreation departments. The site replaces the former 201 Market Ave. SW location and supports more than 190 staff across 17 City divisions.

City Manager Mark Washington said relocating to the new Public Service Center also supports the City's broader vision for riverfront redevelopment while modernizing essential operations.

"Relocating our public works, recreation and other services from 201 Market Ave. was a strategic move that unlocked the potential of a prime riverfront site long envisioned for public use and redevelopment," said Washington. "That location will be home to the Acrisure Amphitheater, an east riverfront park and will spark investments in housing projects aligned with our community's vision for the riverfront. We also anticipate allocating some of the future proceeds from the sale of 201 Market Ave. to the affordable housing fund. At the same time, this new Public Service Center replaces century-old facilities with a modern campus that allows us to better protect our $26.3 million vehicle inventory and extend the life of critical equipment as we serve our residents."

Project Highlights

The Public Service Center supports a wide range of city services, including street maintenance, materials management and recycling, parks programming, forestry, cemetery operations, fleet management and special events. It also houses a 7,700-ton salt dome, vehicle wash facilities and a stockroom inventory valued at $840,000.

Construction began in March 2024 following the City's acquisition of the Scribner site in July 2023.

The project included multiple phases of construction, with contracts approved for demolition, fueling systems, salt dome construction, roofing, electrical and technology infrastructure.

The Public Service Center includes:

• Sustainability upgrades: 36 EV charging stations, 27 full EVs, 90 hybrids, natural lighting and advanced HVAC and lighting systems.
• Employee amenities: Fitness center, wellness rooms, café, gender-inclusive restrooms and riverfront green space.
• Fleet and operations: over 7,700-services annually, 13,000 vehicle washes annually and a $26.3 million vehicle inventory.

The project also prioritized equity and inclusion, with 12.4% of total workforce hours completed by minority workers and 8.1% by micro-local workers.

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