The AIA has announced the elevation of 88 members and two international architects to the College of Fellows, including AIA Detroit’s own Dorian Moore, FAIA of Archive DS, and Jeff Hausman, FAIA of SmithGroup. This is an incredible achievement, as only 3% of the membership are given this distinction.

The award is reserved for architects who have made significant contributions to the profession and society and who exemplify architectural excellence. Both Dorian and Jeff have dedicated their careers to bettering the profession of architecture.

Dorian Moore, FAIA, CNU, Vice President of Archive Design Studio, is an urban designer, architect, entrepreneur, educator, and developer whose commitment to city building extends into civic leadership. With a strong commitment to redeveloping and enhancing existing urban areas, particularly where physical as well as economic challenges exist, he advocates for a strategic approach to revitalizing cities, based on precedent research and sustainable practices aimed at the long-term viability of neighborhoods, districts, corridors, and downtowns. 

Jeffrey J. Hausman, FAIA, LEED AP, is Senior Vice President and Director of the Detroit & Pittsburgh Offices for SmithGroup, Inc., the 6th largest integrated architecture, engineering, and planning firm in the nation. He is also responsible for winning and leading the design of facilities that embody design excellence, innovation, sustainability, and responsiveness to the needs of nationally-recognized organizations. Jeff is a constant champion of the architectural profession.  He inspires young people to explore careers in architecture through his work with educational programs at his firm, for the Michigan Architectural Foundation, and with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

We know that both Jeff and Dorian will be transformative additions to the AIA’s College of Fellows.

Stacey Freed | Fodor’s Travel

Black architects have been designing architectural structures and making their mark on the international landscape since the late 1800s, despite historical barriers. Paul Revere Williams was the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects. He opened his practice in the early 1920s and built nearly 3,000 glamorous Southern California residential and commercial structures for almost 60 years. Norma Merrick Sklarek, the first licensed African American female architect, designed major projects such as the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the Mall of America in Minneapolis.

Today, there are 2,434 licensed Black architects in the United States, less than 2% of the total number of licensed architects. Though small in number, they are responsible for myriad commercial, residential, academic, and government buildings, health care facilities, memorials, and parks large and small around the world. Black architects bring new visions and voices to the way humans perceive and interact with our built environments.

“We’re at a moment when process is almost as important or possibly more important than the product,” says Steven Lewis, principal at ZGF Architects. With today’s Black architects, “there’s an inclusionary process of gathering input and ideas; they’re seeking a sense of having been heard, seen, and acknowledged and offering an ease and comfort in occupying the spaces they create. Pre-George Floyd, these issues weren’t as urgent as they’ve become. There’s an awakening, curiosity, and interest now throughout the profession. With this new visibility of culture and issues, colleagues are excited to include that in the process of ideation.”

Read the entire list here.

Sarah Steimer & Photographs by Sal Rodriguez | HOUR Detroit

“I was sitting somewhere yesterday looking at a workstation — at all of the cables that connect from the PC, the monitor, the keyboard, everything else — and it was a kind of a spaghetti-looking mess,” says Rainy Hamilton Jr. “As architects, we like to take those puzzle pieces, that spaghetti, and try to bring some order to it. And we’re doing that in a context.”

Hamilton and his firm, Hamilton Anderson Associates, are puzzling together pieces of Detroit’s past and future to either birth or revitalize buildings across the city. He says history and context always fuel the first step of the design process in architecture: You look at the fabric of what’s already there — be it an existing building or a vacant piece of property — and ground it in what is needed today.

Hamilton’s own past clearly influenced where he is today — and where he hopes to be in the future. A native Detroiter, he found his calling early and stayed on that path, excelling at art, science, and model-building at a young age. But the context that kept him in Detroit was mutual support between him and the city.

Hamilton initially remained local in an effort to stay close to his mother after his parents divorced. He attended University of Detroit Mercy and was drafted into work at a firm with two of his professors. Hamilton then moved to SmithGroup, where he spent three years before striking out on his own — and even then, his former boss at SmithGroup offered him a safety net: He was told he would be welcome back if his independent work didn’t pan out.

Of course, Hamilton was successful. Now, 28 years later, Hamilton Anderson handles some of the highest-profile architecture and design projects in Detroit including The Hamilton Midtown Detroit, winner of a 2021 Detroit American Institute of Architects Award for Historic Rehabilitation. The organization’s jury for the award said, “The Hamilton perfectly exemplifies the dynamic future of Detroit while simultaneously acknowledging and preserving this piece of its glorious past.”

Hamilton says his team combined new features and amenities with some of the classic ornamentation of the building — such as the marble stairway and terrazzo floors — letting “history speak” in a way that creates a rich environment for the tenants.

This is the more obvious way The Hamilton Midtown (not named for him) combines the past with the present. The arguably more impactful way is that it helped to relocate its previous tenants and offered them a spot in the updated building — at the rent they were originally paying, plus a slight percentage increase and only allowing for small incremental rent increases going forward.

“That kind of effort just excites me, especially in the era of George Floyd and all of the injustice that we see across the country,” Hamilton says. “These projects are important to our mission. I use this corny expression, and I’m sure my staff is tired of hearing me say it, but as a native Detroiter, to be able to rebuild Detroit one home, one block, one neighborhood at a time is exactly why Hamilton Anderson is here and exactly why we’re headquartered here.”

Read the original article here.

Hannah Feniak | Architizer

Black History Month is a time to reflect upon the past and reckon with the long history of racism and inequality that has disenfranchised Black Americans to this day. It is also a time to acknowledge the contributions and celebrate the achievements of generations of Black communities across all areas of society. A history that should not be limited to a single month, we recognize the urgency of listening to and amplifying Black voices all year round.

The under-representation of Black architects and designers continues to mar the architectural profession. Today, Black people make up 14% of the United States’ population; yet, less than 2% of the approximately 113,000 architects licensed in our country are Black. In addition to increasing diversity within the profession, the industry must confront the need to design more equitable spaces and cities and incorporate communities of color into these design processes. As Kweku Addo-Atuah beautifully states, “It takes the collective populace to imagine and shape the built environment, and for it to be truly reflective and responsive to society, inclusiveness must be at the forefront of collaboration.”

Previously, we have sought to posthumously recognize the work of 10 Black Architects Whose Work has Shaped America. By acknowledging these figures from the past whose legacies continue to impact our present, we hoped to contribute to a joint roadmap for building a more equitable future. This year, we highlight contemporary Black architects whose impactful work is forging history in the field today. Including A+Awards jury members, established practitioners and up-and-coming talents, the following architects have not only been singled out for their distinguished designs, but also for their leadership roles in advocating for a more diverse architecture industry and equitable built environment.

Read the entire list here.

Sara Smart | CNN

Doug Schmidt | Windsor Star

First-time home buyer Jude Malott has plenty of prep work left before move-in date — like ripping out the no-longer-groovy shag carpeting — but gone are the sleepless nights and high anxiety of hunting for a starter home in the midst of a crazy-hot real estate market.

He’s now lord of the manor, king of his own urban castle, no longer paying rent for someone else’s property.

“It was incredibly stressful — I lost a lot of sleep,” he said of the search.

Working with an agent and recognizing the local housing market has been on fire the past several years, Malott’s offer on the first address that drew his interest was a whopping $100,000 over the asking price — but he still lost out to someone else’s even higher bid.

And it only got worse. (more…)

MJ Galbraith | metromode

What’s happening: Lawrence Technological University and its home city of Southfield recently celebrated a $1 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation in support of their Centropolis Accelerator, a manufacturing small business accelerator created in partnership between LTU and the city’s Business & Economic Development Department. 

Why it’s important: The $1 million grant will provide capital for the Centropolis Accelerator’s C³ Evergreen Investment Fund. The fund provides non-equity, zero-interest investments to southeast Michigan companies in the fields of advanced manufacturing, manufacturing technology, Industry 4.0 technologies, cleantech, recycling, and COVID response companies. There is also a focus on products that benefit an aging population and those with disabilities.

The space itself: The Centropolis Accelerator is located on LTU’s Southfield campus and features 6,000 sq. ft. of coworking space and a high-tech product prototyping lab, complete with 3D printers, metalworking, and virtual and augmented reality equipment.

A different kind of business accelerator: While many small business accelerators focus on developing high-tech software companies, the Centropolis Accelerator focuses on developing high-tech hardware and manufacturing companies. 

More investments, more Michigan: “The demand for our services has grown significantly. This funding will help support our ability to scale and make direct investments in more Southeast Michigan hardware, physical product clients in commercializing and making their products right here in Michigan,” says Dan Radomski, executive director of the Centrepolis Accelerator.

“The economic impact from this effort cannot be overlooked, as we help our hardware clients grow we are also sending significant business to the local supply chain that is directly helping with their design, engineering, prototyping, testing and manufacturing.”

Read the original article here.

Candice Williams | The Detroit News

Developers celebrated Tuesday the groundbreaking of a $10.8 million apartment building on Detroit’s west side.

The 38-unit Sawyer Art Apartments at 7303 W. McNichols is expected to open in mid to late 2023, officials said. The development sits in Detroit’s Live6 community and is part of the city’s Strategic Neighborhood Fund initiative.

The development team is URGE Development Group, N’Namdi Holdings LLC and Hosey Development.

“The Sawyer Art Apartments is a great example of Detroiters rebuilding Detroit in a way that is affordable for the residents who stayed in this community,” Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement Tuesday. “This is a development team from Detroit that is truly community-focused. This new development will build on the energy and revitalization we have been witnessing along McNichols since we completed our streetscape project this fall.” 

The development is entirely Black-led, with developers Roderick Hardamon, George R. N’Namdi and Richard Hosey at the hem. It is partly funded by Invest Detroit and Capital Impact Partners through the SNF initiative.

“The Sawyer Art Apartments is an example of the type of catalytic projects that are needed and possible throughout the neighborhood in Detroit,” said Hardamon, CEO of URGE Development Group. “These projects are challenging and need the collective support of the city, state, private financing and foundation support. But when done right, the impact cannot be understated.”

The building is named after Detroit artist Tylonn Sawyer, who will create art on the exterior of the building. Sawyer’s painting “White on White: Stone Mountain” was the first work the Detroit Institute of Arts acquired this year for its permanent collection from its African-American Art Acquisition Fund established in 2020.  

The building will feature eight studios, 17 one-bedrooms and 13 two-bedroom units. All of the units will be affordable housing with rates set based on 60%-80% of the area median income, officials said. The building’s 6,186 square-feet of retail space will be available at reduced rates to appeal to small-business entrepreneurs.

The groundbreaking follows the completion of the $7 million McNichols streetscape makeover, also part of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund.

Read the original article here.

Nathaniel Bahadursingh | Archinect

The Hip Hop Architect Michael Ford has surprised a high school senior student in Detroit with a $10,000 scholarship from The Hip Hop Architecture Camp to study architecture.

Sarah Shaw-Nichols is a student at Ford’s former school Cass Technical High School. The scholarship was awarded through Ford’s initiative that aims to introduce underrepresented youth to architecture, urban planning, creative placemaking, and economic development through the lens of hip hop culture. 

The funding for the scholarship came from Herman Miller, which has recently collaborated with Ford on a variety of projects, such as the Conversations for Change program and a custom Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman piece.

Read the original article here.

Illustrations by Olivia Fields | The Atlantic

Many assume that building wealth alone will create greater contentment—but social science shows that how we use our money is the key to lasting joy and satisfaction.

Six years ago, Imani Day was living the dream. Or so she thought. An architect in New York City, Day was working for some of the most prestigious firms in her industry, learning from a series of brilliant designers, and building a resume that would help her climb the career ladder and make a lucrative living. But there was just one problem.

“I was absolutely miserable,” Day says.

Many people believe that increased wealth will invariably bring them happiness—that just a few more digits in one’s paycheck or bank account will act as a one-way ticket to deeper joy and lasting contentment. I wanna be rich, go the lyrics from a chart-topping 1980s pop song. For a little love, peace, and happiness.

However, social science suggests that this expectation is misguided. Researchers studying human happiness consistently have found that other factors—namely, relationships, our faith, and our sense of purpose—are far more important for our sense of well-being.

As for the role of money? That’s more nuanced. By itself, studies show, increased income has a real but limited and diminishing impact on how happy we feel. After a certain level of prosperity, in fact, just having more cash doesn’t seem to make us any happier.

Instead, what matters is how that money facilitates the parts of our lives that are more likely to produce happiness. While wealth in a vacuum can’t buy satisfaction, purposeful spending, saving, and investing can build and strengthen the foundations of a life well-lived—enabling and empowering us to pursue and find happiness as we each define it. (more…)