Top 10 Architecture Firms in Detroit
The architectural identity of Detroit is transforming from rich industrial heritage detailing to contemporary design sensibilities. Many architecture firms in metro Detroit are involved in adaptive reuse, sustainable, and mixed-use development projects. Here is a closer look at the top Detroit architecture firms and how you being a part of them can benefit your career.
1. ROSSETTI
Specialization: Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Planning, Graphic Design, Sustainability
Notable Projects: COSM Detroit,Truist Park Reimagination
ROSSETTI is one of the top architecture firms in Detroit who work on the principle of creating user-centered environments that stimulate engagement and activity. The company has an interdisciplinary approach that merges building design with branding and experiential design which makes them a pioneer in spatial storytelling.
2. Ghafari
Specialization: Design Consulting, Architecture, and Engineering
Notable Projects: BlueOval SK Battery Park, GM Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center
As one of the most popular architecture firms, Ghafari brings an engineering-forward mindset to architectural designs. Their focus on integrated delivery and smart facilities makes them a great learning ground for architects interested in high-performance buildings. The experience here helps early-career professionals bridge the gap between design and execution.
3. Albert Kahn Associates
Specialization: Architecture and Engineering
Notable Projects: Detroit International River Walk and The Corktown Health
Touted as one of the biggest architecture firms in Detroit, Albert Kahn Associates is a prominent name in the city’s industrial legacy. The company’s founder Albert Kahn has been instrumental in shaping the city's evolving urban identity. Today, their portfolio spans healthcare, education, automotive, and industrial design infused with a modern commitment to sustainability.
4. Hamilton Anderson Associates
Specialization: Urban design, Planning, Architecture, and Landscaping
Notable Projects: Elton Park, MGM National Harbor
HAA is invested in equitable urban transformation, with a focus on socio- cultural and community-centric projects. Their holistic practice integrates landscape and planning, offering young architects exposure to the urban scale and its socio-economic intricacies. HAA ranks as one of the top landscape architecture firms in Detroit, perfect for those seeking to make a career in urban design, outdoor spatial design, and placemaking.
5. Infuz Architects
Specialization: Architecture, Landscaping, Sustainability, Master Planning, Building Conservation, Facility Planning, Furniture Design
Notable Projects: The Ribbon Project and Contemporary Waterfront Residence
Infuz Architects is one of the best Detroit architecture firms that merges design with sustainability, often working on residential, conservation, and waterfront projects. Their design ethos values longevity, material honesty, and user interaction which makes them stand out as one of the top residential architecture firms in Detroit. If you aspire to work on varied project scales from interior detailing to urban planning, this organization can provide you with the right opportunities.
6. SDG Architects + Planners
Specialization: Architecture and Design
Notable Projects: DPD 8th Precinct Annex and Food Commons, Detroit
SDG is a firm deeply committed to community-driven design. Their projects often address food security, public health, and civic engagement working closely with stakeholders to shape environments that benefit human health and wellbeing. Their approach is people-centric, practical, and context-aware. Working at SDG fosters a grounded understanding of participatory design, budget-conscious planning, and the empathetic aspect of architecture.
7. McIntosh Poris Associates
Specialization: Architecture and Planning
Notable Projects: The Assembly, Kid Rock’s Made in Detroit
McIntosh Poris is one of the top American architecture firms, best known for their out-of-the-box architecture and interiors. They specialize in breathing new life into underutilized buildings, often turning them into vibrant urban anchors. Their design sensibilities respect history while embedding modern functionality and aesthetics particularly in hospitality, residential, and entertainment sectors.
8. livingLAB
Specialization: Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Planning, Graphic Design, Sustainability
Notable Projects: Gainsboro Park and the Restoration Plan at Flint River
It is one of the best Detroit architecture firms who work at the confluence of design and nature integration. Their projects are mainly bifurcated into green infrastructure, water management, and park design. They often collaborate with civic and environmental organizations to bring their projects to life. Their mission is to create regenerative spaces that heal both people and ecosystems.
9. Push Design
Specialization: Commercial and Residential Design Projects
Notable Projects: WM Great Lakes Area Office, THE Coachman Corktown
Push Design approaches architecture with modernist clarity and attention to material craft. Regarded as one of the best architectural design firms, their projects range from sleek commercial interiors to refined residential builds that play with functionality, light, and texture. Also, their designs reflect minimalist aesthetics rooted in spatial fluidity- which makes them one of the top Detroit architecture firms.
10. SmithGroup
Specialization: Architecture, Campus Planning, Acoustic Architecture
Notable Projects: Princeton Plasma Innovation Center, Sports Arena Family Center
SmithGroup is one of the largest integrated design firms in the U.S., well-known for data-driven, research-backed architecture. As one of the top commercial architecture firms, their projects span healthcare, higher education, research, and urban planning.
Working at SmithGroup can give young professionals exposure to large-scale and multidisciplinary teams. They provide an ideal environment to develop technical fluency, work with cutting-edge tools, and unlock growth opportunities.
How Novatr Trains Architects for Success in Leading BIM Firms
Novatr is an online upskilling platform for individuals in the architecture and engineering domain. Through industry-relevant courses, they intend to create an ecosystem of professionals who are skilled in cutting-edge technologies that are redefining the future of work. Here are the key ways in which Novatr’s BIM Courses empower architects:
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Spanning over 7 months, Novatr offers an all-encompassing course with its curriculum approved by 200+ industry stalwarts.
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Learners get to try their hands on 12+ BIM software and understand their workflows through live online training and case studies.
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Students also get an opportunity to work on ISO 19650 certified capstone projects and receive dual certificates of completion from Novatr and Autodesk.
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Hone your skills and clarify your doubts through cohort-based learning, peer engagement and 1:1 mentorship sessions.
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Novate supports you through career counselling, resume building, portfolio creation, LinkedIn profile optimization, and placement assistance for top architecture firms in the US.
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