On July 7th, I reported that Blu Homes had moved into new digs for their Architectural and design staff and now less than 6 months later they are moving out and relocating everything to their CA factory.
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| Blu Homes New Michigan Offices |
I’m not sure what to make of this other than who abandons new office after just 6 months? Here is the article from MLIVE:
Eco-friendly, prefab homebuilder Blu Homes plans to close its
effort to consolidate its design and manufacturing operations, a company
spokesperson confirmed.
The design hub at
N. Main St.
spring 2014, said Blu Homes spokesperson Dana Smith in an email interview.
“We have enthusiastically offered every employee in that
office to work from
factory is located,” Smith said. “Every employee has been offered relocation
packages. The response from employees in
has been positive and we are hopeful that everyone will move to
Along with its factory in
and design hub in
offices in
Blu Homes taps into technology to allow clients to custom
design their own homes on the company’s website. Customers select from
different home styles, decide the layout and select the finishes, fixtures,
exterior and more. The 3-D software and Google Earth allow clients to see how
their new home will look on their land from every angle.
Blu Homes’ products range from studios and cottages to
four-bedroom homes. Costs range from $130,000 for a small home that can be used
as an addition or cottage, to $590,000. Costs do not include land, the
foundation, permits or landscaping.
Blu Homes built close to 100 homes between 2008 and 2012. In
late June, the company secured $65 million in investments to allow them to
build 15 to 20 display houses in key marketing areas. Smith said Blu Homes is
anticipating bookings and revenue to double this year over 2012.
The Ann Arbor Blu Homes office opened in 2011, led in part
by Karl Daubmann, a
of
of Architecture at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Blu
Homes moved to
the 3,500-square-foot space on
Main Street
Smith said the company’s design operations will be moved to
the Blu Homes factory in
to improve productivity and enhance innovation.
“Bringing our design, engineering and manufacturing
departments under the same roof will greatly increase the pace of innovation
and improve collaboration,” Smith said.
It’s unclear how many of the 38
packages, but Smith said those decisions will be finalized by January.
Doug Allen of Peter Allen & Associates, the owner of the
building at
said he is marketing the 3,500-square-foot Blu Homes office space for lease.
“I do have a number of interested parties,” Allen said.
“Obviously, there’s not a lot of space on
key character spaces that is super cool and modern that a lot of tenants want
to have.”
Lizzy Alfs is a
business reporter for The
News.
