GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Pioneer Construction received four Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan Chapter (ABC WMC) Excellence in Construction Awards at the organization’s 40th annual awards ceremony, with three of them tied to the Acrisure Amphitheater and its parking ramp in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Pioneer Construction and Barton Malow, working as a joint venture, built the 12,000-seat Acrisure Amphitheater on a 10-acre site along the Grand River in Grand Rapids. The project’s signature feature is a 3.2-million-pound steel canopy supported by supertrusses, micropiles, and cast steel nodes.
Built for Grand Action 2.0 and designed by Progressive Companies, the venue was completed in March 2026 and gives Grand Rapids a new riverfront destination for concerts and community events.
Pioneer also earned recognition for self-performing the steel erection at the amphitheater. The team coordinated the erection of the steel canopy and outhouses, covering roughly 60,000 square feet.
The work called for detailed connection planning, equipment selection, shoring tower coordination, and a carefully sequenced erection plan to safely raise one of the most complex steel structures in the region.
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The parking ramp serving the amphitheater required the erection of 461 precast pieces, some weighing as much as 85,000 pounds. With no laydown area on a tight site, the team coordinated 282 truckloads for just-in-time delivery.
Using a strategically placed 330-ton crawler crane, Pioneer completed erection in 42 days with minimal weather delays.
For the new 60,000-square-foot Laker Athletic Center in Spring Lake, Michigan, Pioneer supplied and erected the pre-engineered metal building. The scope included the primary steel structure, a 198-foot clear-span system, a mezzanine, insulated roof and wall panels, and interior liner panels.
Kalwall daylighting panels bring natural light into the fieldhouse, and durable metal systems were selected for long-term performance. The project was designed by TMP Architecture.
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In addition to the three awards Pioneer received for the Acrisure Amphitheater, two trade partners on the project received Excellence in Construction Awards for their contributions.
Integrated Exteriors won in the Masonry category after laying more than 55,000 8-inch concrete blocks for the stair and elevator shafts, backstage areas, and a 300-foot fire wall. On an accelerated timeline, the crew also installed more than 45,000 square feet of stone, including 1,600 square feet of hand-split radius stone.
Architectural Glass & Metals won in the Exterior Finishes category for its work with the design and construction team to develop the custom-fabricated assemblies that shape the venue’s exterior.
Bouma Corp. was also nominated in the Interior Finishing: More than $2 million category for its work on the project, including the integrated acoustical elements that enhance sound quality for performers and audiences.
