The Associated Construction Students, a Ferris State University registered student
organization, recently completed work on a shelter structure in Big Rapids' Brutus
Dog Park. The design was created by an Architecture student from the university, with
the materials for the 11-foot high, 304-square-foot gazebo donated by a group of sponsors.Dog owners in Big Rapids can now stave off a soaking or other weather-related issues
during visits to the Brutus Dog Park, thanks to a 304-square-foot structure recently
installed by Associated Construction Students from Ferris State University.
Junior Jay Janutol, of Troy, is the ACS chapter president, who said crews of six to
eight students took part in the installation the weekend of Oct. 9-11, followed by
the last round of work on Friday, Oct. 16. The Janutol, a Construction Management
major, said the gazebo on posts has a roof that peaks at 11 feet high, with corrugated
metal to keep out rain and frame the structure.
“The east and west sides are open to the elements, but there are sliding Plexiglas
windows on the north and south sides of the gazebo, which should accommodate several
dog owners and their pets if there is a sudden change in the weather,” Janutol said.
“The plans were drawn up by an Architecture student several years ago, and the city’s
Civil Engineering Technician Cody Wyman approached our registered student organization
to take up the project.”
Janutol said a variety of sponsors provided materials to build the gazebo. The organization
received a positive reaction to its work, based on comments during the students’ first
weekend on-site. Big Rapids City Manager Mark Gifford, a Ferris alumnus, said that
this project meets a significant need for park users.
“There are many people at the park each day, both year-round city residents and students
from Ferris, who bring their pets,” Gifford said. “At one point a few years ago, those
residents who were bringing their dogs in the winter had a makeshift shelter in place.
We are so thankful that the Architecture program presented the original design. It
is wonderful that the ACS students were willing to see this through and put the structure
in place before the season changes.”
“This was originally supposed to be taken up last Spring, but as with many things,
the COVID-19 pandemic set the work aside,” Janutol said. “We would be interested in
using our talents in the construction of another structure at the park, but our next
volunteer project will find us working on a build at the New Hope Center homeless
shelter in Cadillac, yet this month.”
Gifford said that many people and their pets should benefit from this collaborative
effort.
“It shows the immeasurable value that Ferris presents in our community,” Gifford said.
“I know that the users of Brutus Dog Park are ecstatic about what has been put in
place.”