The Zeeland Record Company Building, shortly after it opened in 1925. This photo appears to have been taken during a meeting of the Michigan Press Association that was hosted by then-Record publisher and editor Adrian Van Koevering, who at the time was MPA’s president. Adrian Van Koevering is pictured third from the right. George Van Koevering, who later served as editor, is third from the left with his hat in hand. Corey Van Koevering, who later became publisher and editor of The Record, is in the back row, fifth from left.
The newly-renovated interior lobby of the Zeeland Record Company Building, which is now the headquarters for Midwest Construction Group Inc.
Photo provided
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The building that served as the home of the Zeeland Record for nearly a century is now a national historic site.
The Zeeland Record Company Building at 16 S. Elm St., now home to Midwest Construction Group Inc., was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service, becoming just the second location in the city of Zeeland to be designated a national historic site.
“This recognition highlights our commitment to preserving history and craftsmanship in every project,” said Brian VanBeveren, vice president of operations at Midwest Construction. “Our journey through the nomination process has deepened our appreciation for thoughtful preservation and adaptive reuse.
“I want to extend special thanks to Tim Isenga for their dedication and perseverance throughout this two-year effort. Their commitment was instrument in achieving this milestone for Midwest Construction Group, the Van Koevering family and the Zeeland community,” VanBeveren added.
The other national historic place in Zeeland is the former Max and Esther De Pree home at 279 S. Division St. The De Pree home, which was designed by legendary designer and architect Charles Eames, was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
The Zeeland Record Company Building was constructed in 1925. Under the leadership of publisher Adrian Van Koevering, the building not only served as home to the Record, but also to national and regional publications as well. Industry journals supporting Zeeland’s chick-hatching businesses and faith-based publications were published within the walls of 16 S. Elm, connecting Zeeland to the rest of the country.
Midwest Construction began working on the process of having the building designated as a historic site even before it closed on acquiring the building from the Zeeland Record Co., said Isenga, a virtual design construction specialist at Midwest.
“We worked with the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office to get that done, and then we did a full restoration of the building,” Isenga said.
Midwest Construction rehabilitated the building with a focus on preservation and adaptive reuse, honoring the building’s legacy while at the same time creating a modern, functional workspace. Several artifacts from The Record remain in the building today, including a 1906 printing press and a 1940 paper shear, Isenga said.
“They preserved the history. They didn’t have to do any of that,” said Kurt Van Koevering, Adrian’s great-grandson and the fourth-generation publisher of The Zeeland Record. “They wanted to have something that was very unique, and could show off what their talents were and their capabilities. “
Van Koevering praised the word of Midwest Construction, not only for pursuing the historic site designation, but also the rehabilitation work on the building itself.
“When you have a building that has been in the family for so long, it’s been kind of entrusted to you to take care of it,” Van Koevering said. “We are proud to see what they have done with it. We talked to other developers who all wanted to cut it up and make it into condos or apartments, or have 4-5 businesses in it. They’ve done a great job of bringing the building back to its original glory.”
Kurt Van Koevering and his brother Kraig sold the Zeeland Record building to Midwest Construction in July 2023. The newspaper and its related business, ZR Graphics, moved to a location at 10700 Chicago Dr. in Holland Township. The Van Koeverings sold the Zeeland Record at the end of 2024 to the newspaper’s present owner, Detroit Legal News Publishing LLC.
Zeeland Record
The building that served as the home of the Zeeland Record for nearly a century is now a national historic site.
The Zeeland Record Company Building at 16 S. Elm St., now home to Midwest Construction Group Inc., was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service, becoming just the second location in the city of Zeeland to be designated a national historic site.
“This recognition highlights our commitment to preserving history and craftsmanship in every project,” said Brian VanBeveren, vice president of operations at Midwest Construction. “Our journey through the nomination process has deepened our appreciation for thoughtful preservation and adaptive reuse.
“I want to extend special thanks to Tim Isenga for their dedication and perseverance throughout this two-year effort. Their commitment was instrument in achieving this milestone for Midwest Construction Group, the Van Koevering family and the Zeeland community,” VanBeveren added.
The other national historic place in Zeeland is the former Max and Esther De Pree home at 279 S. Division St. The De Pree home, which was designed by legendary designer and architect Charles Eames, was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
The Zeeland Record Company Building was constructed in 1925. Under the leadership of publisher Adrian Van Koevering, the building not only served as home to the Record, but also to national and regional publications as well. Industry journals supporting Zeeland’s chick-hatching businesses and faith-based publications were published within the walls of 16 S. Elm, connecting Zeeland to the rest of the country.
Midwest Construction began working on the process of having the building designated as a historic site even before it closed on acquiring the building from the Zeeland Record Co., said Isenga, a virtual design construction specialist at Midwest.
“We worked with the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office to get that done, and then we did a full restoration of the building,” Isenga said.
Midwest Construction rehabilitated the building with a focus on preservation and adaptive reuse, honoring the building’s legacy while at the same time creating a modern, functional workspace. Several artifacts from The Record remain in the building today, including a 1906 printing press and a 1940 paper shear, Isenga said.
“They preserved the history. They didn’t have to do any of that,” said Kurt Van Koevering, Adrian’s great-grandson and the fourth-generation publisher of The Zeeland Record. “They wanted to have something that was very unique, and could show off what their talents were and their capabilities. “
Van Koevering praised the word of Midwest Construction, not only for pursuing the historic site designation, but also the rehabilitation work on the building itself.
“When you have a building that has been in the family for so long, it’s been kind of entrusted to you to take care of it,” Van Koevering said. “We are proud to see what they have done with it. We talked to other developers who all wanted to cut it up and make it into condos or apartments, or have 4-5 businesses in it. They’ve done a great job of bringing the building back to its original glory.”
Kurt Van Koevering and his brother Kraig sold the Zeeland Record building to Midwest Construction in July 2023. The newspaper and its related business, ZR Graphics, moved to a location at 10700 Chicago Dr. in Holland Township. The Van Koeverings sold the Zeeland Record at the end of 2024 to the newspaper’s present owner, Detroit Legal News Publishing LLC.
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