We are honored to share that our founder, John Whitten, AIA, NCARB, has been recognized by the Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of the "Notable Leaders in Architecture, Engineering & Construction for 2026." While individual recognition is appreciated, architecture is never a solo endeavor. This honor reflects the trust our clients place in us, the collaboration of our consultants and construction partners, and the dedication of the incredible team at Spark 43 Architects. We are especially proud to be recognized alongside so many talented professionals across West Michigan's AEC industry. The list includes respected colleagues, collaborators, competitors, and friends who are all helping shape stronger communities through their work. At Spark 43, we believe great projects begin with listening. Whether we are planning a community center, designing a sports facility, supporting a nonprofit organization, revitalizing a downtown district, or helping an owner navigate a complex capital project, our focus remains the same: serving people first and creating places that matter. Thank you to the Grand Rapids Business Journal for the recognition, and congratulations to all of this year's honorees. Most importantly, thank you to our clients, partners, and team members who make this work possible every day. https://lnkd.in/gVaQp8nV
About us
Critical to achieving a successful outcome is thought diversity and radical collaboration. These form the foundation on which the Spark43 framework is built. Our team of experts routinely collaborates across disciplines and with professionals outside of our studio to ensure that our client’s unique vision and goals are realized in a timely fashion, with special attention given to budgetary constraints, site conditions, and programmatic needs. Recognizing that your site and program components form an inter-dependent system (as opposed to a series of separate pieces) leads to more elegant and cost-effective design solutions in the end.
- Website
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http://www.spark43arch.com
External link for Spark 43 Architects
- Industry
- Architecture and Planning
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2017
- Specialties
- Architecture, Master Planning, Commercial Architecture, Residential Architecture, Sports & Recreation, Laser Scanning, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Universal Design, Fundraising Support, Design, Drone Mapping & Photography, Interior Design, Renovation, New Construction, and Architectural Design
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
160 Calais Ct SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, US
Employees at Spark 43 Architects
Updates
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Mark your calendars: September 26 is the grand opening date for the new Kentwood Community Center! https://lnkd.in/ger3-v8q #Architect #Kentwood #Community
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Thanks to all of our friends and colleagues that joined us for the AIA Grand Rapids Hard Hat Tour of the new Kentwood Community Center this week. It was a great turnout and there were some incredible conversations with fellow architects and designers.
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Check out David Bulkowski and John Whitten, AIA, NCARB's conversation at the new Kentwood Community Center. As you will see (and hear) there is a ton of exciting work happening as we draw closer to the opening in September. If you are interested in a tour feel free to reach out and certainly give Disability Advocates of Kent County and Dave a follow to stay tuned into our project as well as many of the other transformative projects happening in West Michigan. Also - if you haven't registered for Absolutely Accessible West Michigan on May 14th, what is stopping you? https://lnkd.in/eJFBSCXE
📝 From Dave’s Desk Construction is nearing completion at the new Kentwood Community Center, and Dave recently had the chance to stop by and see the progress firsthand. While there, he was joined by John Whitten of Spark 43 Architecture to talk about how this new space is being designed with accessibility and inclusion at its core. The building goes beyond ADA standards, incorporating inclusive design and a zero-step entrance so that everyone can move through the space with ease. It’s exciting to see a community space being built to truly welcome people of all abilities, and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact it will have once the doors open.
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A lot has happened since our last update on the new Community Center for the City of Kentwood. Temporary weather enclosures are quickly giving way to permanent curtain wall, bringing daylight and transparency to the spaces we’ve been imagining for years. Last week marked a major milestone as the final interior concrete pour for the elevated indoor track was completed. Inside, drywall is being hung, and interior painting is well underway. What is most rewarding is seeing the design intentions come to life in real time. The views we carefully framed are coming into focus, and the amount of controlled natural light now filling the building is already transforming the experience of the interior. There’s a noticeable energy on site – not just from the pace of construction, but from the excitement shared by the men and women working every day to bring this vision to life. We’re getting closer to a space that will serve the community for decades – a place to gather, move, compete, and connect. More updates soon. #Architecture #CommunityDesign #ConstructionProgress #PublicSpaces #AEC #DesignInAction #Kentwood #Michigan #BuildingCommunity
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The City of Kentwood Parks & Recreation Community Center project team hit a couple of major milestones this morning on site. The final roof beam was set AND the first concrete floor was poured. IT. IS. BIG: 20,600 square feet big, installed as a continuous pour, no joints big. The team started at the pour at 4am and continued for more than 5 hours straight before starting to finish and ultimately flooding it. Shoutout Triangle Associates and Choice Concrete Construction for the long day and commitment to excellence! #architecture #kentwoodmi #Michigan #recreation
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