Steelcase Plants No. 2 and 3 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Metal Office Furniture Company (Steelcase) Plants No. 2 and 3
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 401 Hall St. SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Hauser-Owen-Ames |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000691 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 2004 |
The Metal Office Furniture Company (Steelcase) Plants No. 2 and 3 are important old factories located at 401 Hall Street SW in Grand Rapids, Michigan. These buildings show a big part of the city's history in making furniture.
History of the Steelcase Plants
Grand Rapids was well-known for making furniture. Two companies, Terrell Manufacturing and The Metal Office Furniture Company, helped make this city famous.
Terrell Manufacturing Company: The Start
In 1908, the Terrell Manufacturing Company began. They built a factory on Hall Street. This company made metal storage cabinets, shelves, and lockers. Their factory started making products in 1908.
The Metal Office Furniture Company Begins
A few years later, in 1912, The Metal Office Furniture Company was formed. Their first factory, Plant No. 1, was on South Division. They made metal office furniture for another company called Fred Macey Furniture.
Joining Forces: A New Partnership
In 1918, The Metal Office Furniture Company stopped working with Fred Macey. Instead, they teamed up with Terrell Manufacturing. Both companies grew a lot during the 1920s.
Building Plant No. 2 and No. 3
In 1925, Metal Office Furniture started building a new factory. This new building, Plant No. 2, was for making desks and tables. It was connected to the Terrell plant. In 1930, two more floors were added to Plant No. 2. That same year, the two companies officially joined together. The original Terrell plant from 1908 became Metal Office Furniture Company Plant No. 3.
Surviving Tough Times and Changing Names
The company kept making furniture even through hard times like the Great Depression and after World War II. In 1954, they changed their name to Steelcase. This new name came from a popular product they made.
Moving On: New Facilities for Steelcase
In 1955, Steelcase started building a much bigger factory. By 1958, all the work from Plants No. 2 and 3 moved to this new, larger building. The old Plants No. 2 and 3 were empty for two years. They were sold in 1960. Since then, smaller businesses have used them for manufacturing and storage.
What the Buildings Look Like
The Steelcase Plants No. 2 and 3 complex has four main buildings. These include two factory buildings, a power plant, and a concrete block building.
Plant No. 3: The Oldest Factory
The oldest building is the 1908 factory, known as Plant No. 3. It is a single-story brick building. It has a special roof called a monitor roof, which runs along the entire length of the building. This roof design helps bring in light and fresh air. The building has many sections, or "bays," each with three large windows.
Plant No. 2: The Larger Factory
The factory built between 1926 and 1930 is a large, four-story brick building. It has a flat roof. This building is very long and wide, with many sections separated by brick pillars. These sections have steel windows with many small panes of glass.
