At a Glance:

Construction began in 2021 on the transformation of the former American Red Cross building at 1050 Fuller Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan, converting the existing 24,000-square-foot facility into the new Life EMS Innovation & Education Centre. This adaptive reuse and renovation project preserves a historic community landmark while reimagining it as a modern training and education facility.

Originally established in 1917, the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids operated from this building—constructed in 1965—for decades, serving thousands of individuals through life-saving training programs focused on emergency preparedness and response.

Today, the property is owned by Life EMS Ambulance, a leading provider of emergency medical services in West Michigan. Notably, Life EMS CEOs Mark Meijer and Ken Morris attended their first CPR training in this very building over 40 years ago—bringing the project full circle as the space is reimagined for the next generation of first responders.

The newly renovated Innovation & Education Centre is designed to support both internal and regional training initiatives. The facility features large, modern classrooms, updated technology, and energy-efficient systems, allowing it to host CPR certification, MIOSHA training, first responder education, and EMS workforce development programs.

The space includes multiple 1,000+ square-foot classrooms and conference rooms, four dedicated office areas for small-group training and testing, a full-service warming kitchen, and an outdoor patio with pergola overlooking Fuller Avenue. In addition to the completed renovations, approximately 3,500 square feet of white-box space remains available for future build-out and expansion.

This project marks the fifth major facility on the Life EMS campus in Grand Rapids, reinforcing its commitment to advancing emergency medical training, education, and community preparedness throughout the region.