Sam Cochran, Assistant Superintendent at O-A-K and Hope College alum, walked the job site in downtown Holland with Nick Duthler, Director of Operations for Hope College, for a look at the college's new Business and Economics building.

The project broke ground on October 17, 2025, during Hope's Homecoming weekend, drawing hundreds of alumni, students, and community members to the site. The three-story building, roughly 70,000 square feet, sits on East 8th Street, between the historic Holland City Hall and Firehouse and the Holland Area Arts Council, on a 1.2-acre parcel Hope College has owned for about twenty years. The site was previously home to the Versendaal car dealership.

The building will bring Hope's Economics and Business Department, currently spread across campus, into one location for the first time. "They're spread out all over campus, and to have it all in one location will be incredibly impactful," Duthler said.

In addition to classrooms, offices, and conference rooms, the building will include a large atrium designed as a gathering space for students between classes and beyond. The project also includes ground-floor retail space, part of an effort to keep the building an active part of downtown Holland and strengthen the connection between campus and the community.

The Economics and Business Department is Hope College's largest, serving nearly one-third of its students, and has grown sixty percent over the past fifteen years. The new building, part of the college's "Hope College Means Business" campaign, is expected to open in fall 2028.

"O-A-K has always done fantastic work," Duthler said. "You work really well with our architects, and you work really well with us, and that's what we need in a good partner."

O-A-K is proud to continue its partnership with Hope College. Thank you also to our video partners at Taproot Pictures.

More Hope College x O-A-K Projects

O-A-K is glad to welcome Kylee Haywood as Business Development Manager, bringing more than twenty-five years of relationship and business development experience to the West Michigan team.

Kylee's career spans client services, commercial construction, manufacturing, and workplace design, and one thing has stayed constant across every stop: she builds relationships that last well past the first deal. Ask her about her career and she will point back to the people behind it, the clients she got to know, the trust she built, and the partnerships that grew from there.

Relationships have always come first for her, going back to the beginning of her career. "I really got started in business development through sales," Kylee says. "Early in my career, I learned that my strength wasn't just selling a product, it was building relationships, connecting with people, and finding opportunities where I could bring value. As my career progressed, that naturally evolved into new business development. I found that I really enjoyed opening doors, making connections, and turning those relationships into long-term partnerships and business growth."

"We're constantly looking for ways to better connect with our clients and partners - both existing and new." says Josh Szymanski, Chief Strategy Officer at O-A-K. "Kylee brings a long history of building trusted relationships in West Michigan.  As we grow in multiple regions, Kylee helps us make sure we also focus on continuing to serve the Grand Rapids area commercial market."

Kylee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations from Grand Valley State University. She stays active in the West Michigan community as a board delegate with CREW West Michigan, where she also serves on the programs committee.

Kylee likes to sum it up simply: "Treat people well, listen to what matters to them, and take the time to genuinely get to know them. Build trust first, do the right thing, and let the relationship lead the business." We couldn't agree more, and we're glad to have her in our court. Welcome, Kylee!

More on Kylee Haywood.

Woodland Elementary staff and students recently traded their classroom for hard hats. From a safe distance behind the fence line, they got a firsthand look at the jobsite where their new school is taking shape. The visit, known as a fence tour, was led by Anastasia Wojcik, project manager with Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. (O-A-K), and Jennifer Carson, principal at Woodland Elementary.

"It's great for them to be able to see the people on site, equipment moving around, and really get a sense of what's happening here," Carson said.

Teachers also used the visit to bring a classroom lesson to life, connecting the tour to a unit on area and perimeter.

The new Woodland Elementary is part of Portage Public Schools' Building the Future of Learning bond program, approved by voters in 2021. The building is being designed around an enchanted forest theme, with natural materials and abundant daylight. Learn more about the ground breaking here.

While construction continues, staff and students are temporarily housed at the former Haverhill Elementary building. Woodland is scheduled to open in fall 2027, the first of three new Portage elementary schools opening in three consecutive years, followed by Amberly in 2028 and Angling Road in 2029.

Thank you to our partners: Portage Public Schools, TowerPinkster, Plante Moran, Fielding International, and Video Partner Taproot Pictures.