Four years ago, Switch announced plans to create the largest data center in the eastern United States at the former Steelcase pyramid in Gaines Township.
The announcement marked the latest use of the landmark structure, which was built by the office furniture company in 1989 for $111 million.
Here's a look back at some of the key moments in the building's history:
When Steelcase opened its landmark pyramid office building in 1989, it was touted as the country's most comprehensive research center for the nation's largest office-furniture manufacturer.
The building has housed testing laboratories, project team areas and even a sound-proof room for measuring the noise created by furniture. Designed by Grand Rapids architectural firm The WBDC Group and built by Barnes Construction Co., it was visited by Egyptian engineers, who appraised the structure's aesthetic and functional use of space.
In July 2009, following waves of buyouts and layoffs that left the pyramid under capacity, Steelcase announced it was moving its remaining employees out of the structure. At the time, the company said it would take about three years to move about 500 employees out of the building and into Steelcase's 44th Street SE campus.
The pyramid was put on the market in 2010 for for $19.5 million, about $3 million less than its taxable value at the time.
In 2014, a group known as the Pyramid Campus Group announced plans to purchase the pyramid for $7.5 million and open a school for preschool through university-level students focused on science, technology, arts, education and math.
The push to convert the pyramid into a school campus was led by businessman Jerry Zandstra, president of Education Campus Investors.
However, Zandstra's deal to buy the pyramid fell apart in 2015. At the time, he contended that Steelcase pulled out of the deal after the Grand Rapids office furniture company got a better offer.
Steelcase disputed Zandstra's description of events. In a statement, it said it was Zandstra's organization, a limited liability company, that pulled out after failing to meet an extended deadline to buy the facility.
When Education Campus Investors, or ECI, did not meet the February deadline for closing the deal as agreed, Steelcase gave the group an additional two months, Steelcase spokesperson Laura Van Slyke said in 2015.