Bazzani Associates recently received the nation’s first Double Gold LEED Certification for The East Hills Center (Of the Universe) building, corner of Lake Drive and Diamond. Gold certifications were awarded for both LEED-CS and LEED-CI.

Think about Grand Rapids-area architecture. A lot of new construction is going on. There are so many cranes overlooking downtown today, you’d think we were living in Beijing.

Let’s look a little closer at some of these glamorous attention getters: certainly, The Lacks Cancer Center. The Rapids' Central Station. The new Metropolitan Hospital. But also, look at some smaller projects: The Helmus Building. Keystone Community Church. The East Hills Center (of the Universe.). What do all these destinations have in common?

Eight-year-old Emily Van Dyke-Mathews isn’t sure what earthworms do for her garden soil, but she doesn’t need to worry. Emily is already a veteran gardener in Hillcrest Garden, the Fulton Heights Neighborhood Association Community Garden.