Redefining Convention Spaces: A Human-Centered Transformation at DeVos Place
Designing for the Human Experience
Situated along the scenic Grand River in Grand Rapids, Mich., DeVos Place is a multipurpose convention center that has served as a dynamic hub for community and culture since opening in 2003. Today, it hosts everything from large-scale conventions and trade shows to intimate corporate meetings and vibrant performances. Spanning 250,000 square feet, the venue includes an expansive exhibit hall, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom,26 meeting rooms and a 2,500-seat performance hall. It’s home to Grand Rapids’ symphony, ballet, and opera company, and Broadway Grand Rapids. It is popular destination for concerts, musical productions, and major public events.
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Crafting a Custom Experience for Every Guest
Much like the diverse organizations it serves, DeVos Place continues to evolve. As a multipurpose venue, it must be agile—ready to transform overnight from a medical convention to an engineering trade show or a performing arts gala.
“Each event brings its own rhythm, expectations, and energy,” says Eddie Tadlock, assistant general manager. “Some attendees seek a quiet spot to recharge. Others need a quick one-on-one space. And some prefer to roam the exhibition floor.”
To support these varying needs, the facility began refreshing its public spaces with modular, comfortable furniture—pieces that invite guests to sit, connect, or simply take a break. The updated furniture now includes modular soft seating supported with pop-out power options, offering guests convenient ways to stay connected while relaxing between sessions.
Another key consideration was reconfigurability. Individual furniture components can be combined into ganged configurations when stability is needed—like in areas where guests shouldn’t move the seating—or left independent for maximum flexibility in multifunctional spaces. The Chameleon line enables this shift easily, allowing the team to switch formats using its existing hardware.
Phase one began with ideation and mapping out which furniture worked best in key gathering zones. “A lot of our old furniture was constantly being moved to accommodate booths and setups—it was just a nightmare,” recalls Tadlock. “Some of it was added just to increase seating, without any thought to function or flow.”
Pivoting to People-First Design
In phase two, the team focused on enhancing functionality and guest experience—adding features that better supported the variety of interactions that happen in a convention setting.
Phase three, now underway, looks toward future improvements and innovations.
Working with MiEN as its design partner, DeVos Place emphasized usability and user comfort. Designers studied how people naturally gathered and flowed through the space and used those insights to inform furniture choices and layout.
Natural, earth-tone upholstery and high-performance fabrics were chosen for both durability and a calming visual appeal. Wireless charging stations were installed throughout public spaces, letting guests power up devices without needing to plug in.
Durability was also key. “We have big groups in here every week, and that’s a lot of wear and tear,” says Tadlock. “We don’t have the budget to keep replacing furniture, so we needed to get it right the first time.”
Leading with Human-Centered Design
DeVos Place reflects a growing shift in public venues—from rigid, impersonal furnishings to design that prioritizes human interaction, comfort, and flexibility. The furniture isn’t chosen simply to fill space, but to support the way people use space.
One standout collaboration with MiEN involved designing chair carts that could be stacked vertically in limited linear space and moved safely by forklift. “MiEN delivered eight prototypes. We tested them all and helped finalize a design that I hear has become a top-selling product,” says Tadlock.
The team also continues to refine the furniture based on how it performs in practice, with MiEN offering valuable guidance—from assembly support to functional upgrades like larger glides that prevent breakage when furniture is frequently moved.
What’s Next: Modular Privacy and Collaboration Pods
Looking ahead, DeVos Place is preparing for its next evolution: the introduction of Ecolution Design’s modular acoustic pods. These flexible, sound-dampening units are designed to give guests privacy and a welcome break from the hustle of a busy convention, while also enabling small group collaboration and hybrid meetings.
“In public venues, the needs of guests and organizers are always shifting,” says Tadlock. “That’s why it’s so important to work with modular lines that are designed for change. With Ecolution’s pods, we’re creating options that can meet today’s expectations—and tomorrow’s.”
Redefining the Guest Experience
By continuously adapting its public spaces with human-centered design principles and flexible, future-ready solutions, DeVos Place is setting a new standard for convention centers—ensuring that every conference attendee, concert-goer, or exhibitor can curate an experience that’s comfortable, intuitive, and uniquely their own.