Riverfront Project Has Local Engineer

GRAND RAPIDS — Local engineering firm Moore & Bruggink Inc. is spearheading the survey and land acquisition concerns of the mysterious 30-acre riverfront project on Market Avenue in southwest Grand Rapids.

“I signed the same paper that everyone else has signed,” said William Kozak, leader of the firm’s survey department and the management group’s secretary and treasurer. “We’ve been working with these folks from a survey and engineering support standpoint for a year or so, and that’s really all I can tell you.”

Kozak manages the firm’s land development services, which includes site selection, conceptual design, implementation and completion. He has worked with private and public facilities for commercial, industrial and residential developments.

Some of his more notable projects include Union Station, the renovation of American Seating Park, facilities for Zondervan Corp., Menard’s, Lacks Industries and RiteAid Stores, the M-40 highway in Holland, and the Aerotech (Cascade), Highpoint (Zeeland) and NorthRidge (Walker) industrial parks.

He is also experienced in soil evaluation, environmental site assessments and land acquisition.

As a firm, Moore & Bruggink is most famous for the $15 million design and reconstruction of MonroeCenter, just a few blocks from the riverfront project, which includes the

Maya Lin-influenced Rosa Parks Circle

The firm’s current projects include complete downtown makeovers of CentralLake and Zeeland

“This is a wonderful thing for our city and for our employees,” Kozak said. “It’s work that will be kept here locally.”

He emphasized the firm’s Grand Rapids roots.

“We pay all our taxes here and everything else,” he said.

Moore & Bruggink is headquartered at

2020 Monroe Ave.

NW. Founded by partners Ray Bruggink and Millard Moore in 1956, the firm is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Kozak indicated he believes the still unknown developer “will make a concerted effort to see money spent in the West Michigan economy.”

“We could use all the help we can get,” he added.

Kozak was not able to speak about project or developer specifics.