Schoolpictures.com to start construction on new Ypsilanti home
The big machinery is starting to warm up in Ypsilanti now that Schoolpictures.com has closed on its new home and expects to start work on the old Ave Marie campus once August rolls around.
Schoolpictures.com is closing. On its new home that is. (Scared you there, didn’t we?)
The web-based company closed on its new home in the former Ave Maria University campus in Ypsilanti Monday and expects to start construction within the next couple of weeks.
“Once the first of August comes around the big Tonka trucks will some in and start doing some work,” says Skip Cerier, president of Schoolpictures.com, adding work should be done by February.
Schoolpictures is in the process of taking over the old Ave Maria University campus on Forest Avenue between the campus of Eastern Michigan University and Frog Island Park. It’s moving from Pittsfield Township because growth has been so rapid its old HQ just couldn’t accomodate all the new employees.
Schoolpictures.com started with seven employees three years ago and has since grown to more than 40. The company’s business has more than doubled in that time and it hopes to reach well beyond those numbers in the next five years.
During its search for new offices 18 cities across the country were considered. Cerier chose Ypsilanti because of proximity to EMU’s campus, allowing it to work closely with the school and its students.
Schoolpictures.com plans to renovate the buildings on the small campus, 21,000 square feet in all, and make them more environmentally friendly. Among the additions will be green roofs installed on the two main buildings. Cerier is also working with an architect to make sure the buildings are certified for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design.
Schoolpictures.com is also buying the campus’ president house. The 1864 Victorian home was painstakingly restored by Tom Monaghan, the founder of Ave Maria, to combine historical integrity with modern convenience. That house will be used for meetings and to entertain potential clients.
Source: Skip Cerier, president of SchoolPictures.com
Writer: Jon Zemke
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