Project Showcase: NOCOM Structural Subfloor Supports Wealthy & Sheldon Apartments in Grand Rapids

Urban infill projects come with a unique set of construction challenges. Tight sites, mixed-use layouts, fire-rated assemblies, acoustic expectations, and schedule demands all place added pressure on the materials selected for the building envelope and floor systems.

At 90 Wealthy Street SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Wealthy & Sheldon Apartments project transformed a long-vacant downtown site into a new mixed-use multifamily development featuring 58 apartment units and ground-floor retail space. The project is positioned near downtown Grand Rapids, hospitals, restaurants, markets, and public transit, making it a strong example of modern urban housing designed around walkable city living.

For Multi-Panels, the project was an opportunity to support a light-gauge steel framed multifamily building with a proven noncombustible subfloor solution. Approximately 45,000 square feet of 3/4" NOCOM Structural Subfloor was installed across multiple levels of the development in Q4 2023.

Project Snapshot

Project: Wealthy & Sheldon Apartments / Mixed-Use

Location: 90 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Architect: Maxam Architecture

Builder: Cella Building Company

Installing Contractor: Bouma Corporation

Product: 3/4" NOCOM Structural Subfloor

Size: 45,000 SF

Application: Structural subflooring for light-gauge steel framed multifamily construction

Timing: Q4 2023

Supporting Modern Mixed-Use Multifamily Construction

The Wealthy & Sheldon project represents the type of urban development becoming increasingly important in growing cities: compact, efficient, mixed-use housing built on underutilized land.

For buildings like this, the structural subfloor system plays a critical role. It must support the overall floor assembly, coordinate with fire-rated design requirements, contribute to acoustic performance, and help keep construction moving efficiently from level to level.

NOCOM Structural Cement Subfloor was installed across multiple floors of the building as the primary subfloor panel system. Its dry-installed, panelized format made it a strong fit for a mid-rise multifamily project where speed, consistency, and compatibility with light-gauge steel framing were important.

Why NOCOM Was a Strong Fit

Traditional poured floor systems can introduce added weight, cure time, moisture, and trade coordination challenges. On a multifamily project with multiple levels, those factors can affect construction sequencing and overall schedule.

NOCOM offers an efficient alternative. As a cementitious, noncombustible structural subfloor panel, NOCOM is designed for use in floor assemblies where fire performance, acoustic design, durability, and constructability all matter. For the Wealthy & Sheldon Apartments project, the system helped provide a durable subfloor solution while eliminating the need for wet-applied poured toppings in the primary subfloor scope.

Key advantages for this type of project include:

• Noncombustible subfloor performance

• Compatibility with fire-resistive construction

• Dry installation with no cure-time delays

• Lightweight alternative to traditional poured systems

• Compatibility with light-gauge steel framing

• Support for IIC/STC acoustic floor assemblies

• Durable performance for multifamily residential use

Built for Performance from the Ground Up

In mixed-use multifamily buildings, the floor assembly has to do more than simply create a walking surface. It must support residential comfort, fire and life safety goals, acoustic expectations between units, and long-term building performance.

NOCOM helps meet those needs by providing a structural panel system engineered for demanding commercial and multifamily applications. Its use at Wealthy & Sheldon reflects the growing demand for building materials that can improve efficiency without sacrificing performance.

A Strong Example of Urban Infill Development

The Wealthy & Sheldon Apartments project brought new housing and commercial opportunity to a previously vacant site in Grand Rapids. With 58 apartment units, ground-floor retail, and a location designed around walkable access to the surrounding city, the development is a strong example of how modern multifamily construction can contribute to urban revitalization.

For Multi-Panels, it also demonstrates how NOCOM Structural Subfloor can support the needs of light-gauge steel framed multifamily projects, especially where fire performance, acoustic assemblies, and installation efficiency are key considerations.

Have a multifamily, mixed-use, or light-gauge steel project that requires a durable noncombustible subfloor system?

Contact Multi-Panels to learn how NOCOM can support your next build.