- Projects
- Corporate Headquarters in Portage, Michigan
Helping a Global Medical Technology Leader Get Back to Work
Austin Freund
Angela Crete

When a tornado damaged one of their Portage buildings, a leading medical technology company had to pivot quickly. What began as a standard relocation turned into an accelerated effort to re-home employees in a space that upheld quality and function.
That’s when they turned to Custer.
A Balanced Approach to Workplace Planning
To meet the accelerated timeline, Custer worked closely with the company’s facilities team to identify what could be reused and where updates were needed. Rather than starting from scratch, our team recommended building on existing standards. This significantly reduced decision time and allowed a meaningful portion of the budget to go toward strategic upgrades that enhanced workspace flexibility.



The furniture plan was developed using a mix of existing standards, including products the client had successfully used in past installations, combined with new elements that introduced added flexibility and efficiency.
The final space includes:
- Collaborative areas for quick meetings and casual conversations
- Benching stations to make the most of available square footage
- Private offices designed for focused, individual work
- Conference rooms equipped for both in-person and hybrid collaboration
- Flex Active Frames that allow for adaptable zones and reconfiguration as team needs evolve
Each setting was designed to serve different work styles while maintaining a cohesive look and feel that aligned with the client’s brand and expectations.
Thoughtful Product Selections
Furniture was sourced from long-standing partners such as Steelcase and AMQ, ensuring reliable performance and compatibility with the client’s workplace standards.
The package included:



- Migration SE workstations
- Flex height-adjustable desks
- Ergonomic seating like Gesture, Karman, and Series 2 chairs
These products were chosen for their comfort, durability, and ability to support a range of tasks throughout the workday.
Delivered on Time, Ready for Use
Despite the disruption caused by the tornado, the space was completed on a fast timeline and is now fully operational. The result is a functional, comfortable workplace to welcome employees back to that aligns with the company’s existing facilities while also supporting the evolving needs of its workforce.



A Dependable Partner Throughout the Process
At Custer, we understand that every project comes with its own set of challenges and we’re here to help navigate them. In this case, it meant working quickly, staying flexible, and communicating clearly throughout the process. In a moment of unexpected disruption, we helped deliver a stable, well-designed workplace that supports productivity and comfort from day one. The outcome is a workplace that’s ready to support productivity from day one.



