An opportunity for adaptive reuse

The county identified a 130,000 square-foot, 1970s-era former bank headquarters in downtown Flint’s financial district as an opportunity for adaptive reuse. The benefits of reinvesting in downtown real estate were threefold. It would preserve a historic structure and save taxpayer dollars from the expenses of a new build, while providing central access for residents. The vision for the administrative building:

• Inspire pride and support employees with ergonomic furnishings. 

• Create a more efficient, welcoming experience for the residents of the county. 

• Enhance in-person connection for staff within spaces that reflect their caliber of service.

• Deliver the new space within the allotted budget. 

From dealer and vendor to trusted partners 

To execute their vision, the county assembled a team co-captained by a pair of regional partners: Pinnacle Design, a certified MillerKnoll dealer based in Saginaw, and THA Architects in Flint. Grounding the project in strong relationships, Pinnacle worked to understand the county’s culture and goals, from early insight sessions through final project coordination.

“[Pinnacle] wasn’t steering us towards their vision. They were helping us enact our vision,” said Derek Bradshaw, Director of Planning for Genesee County. “They became part of the team as opposed to a vendor.”

Pinnacle brought extra benefits to the project by involving MillerKnoll. With deep expertise in supporting municipal clients through the unique challenges of their sector, MillerKnoll was a natural ally in pursuing the county’s goals for talent attraction and elevated government service.

As a consolidated source for design and procurement, MillerKnoll simplified the county’s complex real‑estate consolidation while helping them identify a procurement strategy that was not only compliant, but maximized every dollar spent. Through the OMNIA Partners Cooperative Contract, the county avoided a lengthy RFP process during procurement, saving months of administrative effort and up to $75,000 in opportunity costs.

Together, MillerKnoll and Pinnacle delivered the manufacturing capabilities of a global design leader with the responsiveness of a trusted regional partner. This single point of contact ensured seamless project delivery. And without the complexity of navigating multiple vendors for different furniture categories, the team could focus their energy on creating spaces that Genesee County could feel proud of.

Designing a collaborative government office  

The building’s existing character shaped the design of spaces inside. The county worked to preserve historic elements, including granite and travertine surfaces and the original steel bank door. Staff input shaped every setting, with many requests—ergonomic furnishings, collaboration-ready work areas, and equitable access to natural light—aligning with the county’s goals to support wellbeing and create spaces where people want to work. 


“When we’re trying to recruit or retain staff, we need to provide a space that makes people feel welcome—that they feel proud to come work at,” said Joshua Freeman, Director of Administration, Genesee County Board of Commissioners. Settings across the floorplate include:  

• Cafés

• Conference rooms

• Staff lounges

• Nursing rooms

• Workout room

• Private offices

• Workstations

• Ancillary settings for quick connection

Workstations feature ergonomic furnishings and accessories that encourage adjustment. These include Flo Monitor Arm, Tu Storage, Sayl Chair, Lino Chair, and Canvas workstations from Herman Miller. Perhaps better than any other space across the building’s ten floors, the third‑floor collaboration room showcases the breadth of the MillerKnoll collective. It  also  became central to the building successfully supporting the organization’s culture.  

Energetic hues unify the wall art and furnishings, which support everything from focused work and collaboration to quick breaks and book club meetings. Bay Work Pods from Herman Miller enhance heads-down, while NaughtOne Pippin Chairs alongside Eames Shell Chairs from the county's former buildings invite people to pull up a seat at small gatherings.



“We wanted a space that felt cared for so the people who worked there could focus on caring for others,” says Alycia Breene, Interior Design Coordinator at Pinnacle Design. “I think the building just set the stage for that and the people inside are what gave it purpose.”  

Strategic stewardship

Nearly every setting features furnishings that are backed by MillerKnoll’s industry‑leading warranties to ensure the county’s investment lasts. Many furnishings were also standardized so the county could quickly integrate staff-picked designs across future municipal projects at a lower cost.

Even with construction delays, MillerKnoll’s Customer Care team and Pinnacle Design kept coordination and installation running smoothly. With Pinnacle as a reliable, single point of contact, the project built a trusted partnership the county plans to rely on into the future.

“We have a lot on the horizon, and we’ve been pretty successful in this model,” said Freeman. “We want to replicate that as we move forward.”

Q&A

How can adaptive reuse serve municipal constituents?
Adaptive reuse transforms existing structures into spaces that support modern government service, reducing real estate costs and preserving regional architecture. Genesee County reused a former bank headquarters to create a modern municipal workplace.

How can workplace design improve government services?
When designed to support collaboration and employee wellbeing, government offices can improve the experience of work and drive efficient service delivery for residents.

What furniture solutions work best for government offices?
Ergonomic seating, flexible workstations, and collaborative settings help government agencies attract talent and support employees however they prefer to work.

3-point recap

1. Genesee County consolidated 15 departments into a modern municipal workplace in Flint, Michigan. 

2. MillerKnoll delivered ergonomic furniture and workplace design strategies tailored for government offices.

3. Genesee County saved time and costs by using a compliant OMNIA contract that eliminated procurement complexity.