Zachary Verhulst is walking in his father’s footsteps. His father was a small business owner and Verhulst has replicated that by creating a business of his own. Verhulst is the founder and managing principal of Pure Architects, an architectural firm in Grand Rapids. “I made a decision to embark on a journey to build a practice that is reflective of a belief that design can enhance the spirit of a place and create a sense of belonging for those that experience it,” he said. “Pure Architects was born out of the idea that good design is rooted in empathy, and we design for people knowing…

The Diatribe is on a mission to create a space where people on the Southeast side can live, work and play within the community. Since 2021, the arts and culture nonprofit has been a space where community stakeholders can collaborate on changing the perception of the city’s Southeast side through large-scale murals and youth programming. READ MORE