Detroit is a city rich in history, tradition, and creativity. This thriving metropolis of nearly three million people is home to some of the warmest people in the country. Local bands and major ones have long thrived in the music industry. It is a mecca for Art Deco architecture and a plethora of other spectacular structures and places. Many small businesses, new restaurants, and huge corporations call the city home, including Amazon, Deloitte, General Motors, Walmart, and Target.

This article lists some of the top industrial architects in Detroit, Michigan. These firms were chosen based on their abilities, expertise, skills, portfolios, and, most importantly, their capacity to fulfill customer expectations.

Ghafari

211 West Fort Street, Suite #510, Detroit, MI 48226-3269

Ghafari is a global engineering, architecture, process design, consulting, and construction services business dedicated to understanding and meeting each client’s unique demands. It assists clients in increasing their productivity, sustainability, and influence by combining intelligence with technical innovation. It is a full-service company with the expertise to guide a project through all stages of development, from planning through start-up and commissioning.

Ghafari is led by President and CEO Kouhaila (Ki) Hammer. Ki graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting. She previously served as president of the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD), and she currently sits on the boards of the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan and the Rackham Foundation and the board and executive committee of the Detroit Regional Chamber. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and has been named one of the 100 most prominent women in Michigan three times by Crain’s Detroit Business.

Albert Kahn Associates

Fisher Building, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Suite #1800, Detroit, MI 48202-3000

Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. has been committed to developing and engineering inventive facilities that exceed the expectations of its clients for 125 years. Kahn is committed to putting customers first and providing spectacular results, guided by the legacy of founder Albert Kahn and a flair for architecture and engineering. Albert Kahn Associates is a full-service architecture and engineering company ready to handle all aspects of its clients’ projects.

Having designed over 45,000 projects worldwide, Kahn’s experience includes architecture, engineering, interior design, program management, and master planning, as well as commissioning, business and management requirements, strategic facilities planning, value, and sustainability analyses. Khan received various honors with years of excellence, including the 2020 ENR Midwest Best Project Award, 2013 AIA Michigan Honor Award, 2010 AIA Detroit Honor Award, and the 2010 CREW Detroit Impact Award.

Hobbs + Black Associates

100 N State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Hobbs+Black Architects, founded in 1965, is a nationally recognized Michigan-based firm with offices in Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Phoenix. For the past 56 years, the company has provided architecture with a timeless value that reflects its clients’ social standing. It specializes in civic, commercial, education, health care, hospitality, industrial, mixed-use, multifamily, retail, recreation, and office space projects. It serves 30 states in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Saudi Arabia, offering a wide range of services, including architectural design, interior design, and planning.

William S. Hobbs leads Hobbs+Black Architects. For the past 50 years, he has directed the firm’s management, design, and overall operations. William is a registered architect in 30 states and has led design teams on numerous projects.

NORR

150 W. Jefferson Ave, Suite #1300, Detroit, MI 48226

NORR is an employee-owned, fully integrated architecture and engineering firm. Its team of 800 architects, engineers, planners, and interior designers collaborate across 12 market sectors from headquarters in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. Since its inception in 1938 by Canadian Architect John B. Parkin, the firm has built its reputation for inspired design for 85 years. It strives for excellence in the built environment through sustainable supervision, the inclusion of people, technological advancement, and the pursuit of design excellence.

Douglas Lang takes the lead in industrial projects, which comprises mostly of last-mile logistics centres, wet and dry warehousing and distillers. NORR’s mission is to help its clients achieve their corporate pursuits while contributing to healthier and more sustainable spaces and places worldwide. Its works have been featured on CRAIN’s Detroit and PRISM: Sustainability in the Built Environment several times.

Sidock Group

45650 Grand River Ave., Novi, MI 48374

Sidock Group, founded in 1974 as a small chemical engineering firm, now employs over 120 people across seven Midwest offices. It is well-known for its heavy industrial expertise, including chemical and process, steel and metals, power generation, refinery, and manufacturing. Sidock Architects is the Sidock Group’s full-service project studio.

The company has completed projects in most market sectors, including heavy and light industrial, aviation facilities, municipal buildings, retail stores, educational structures, cultural, and single and multifamily residential spaces. It is led by Bill Sidock as president and is a recipient of the 2017 Keep Michigan Beautiful Award Presidential Awards for its work on Alpine Cardiology located in Gaylord, Michigan. 

Sidock Architects has piqued the public’s interest, including several periodicals like SecondWave Media and Archinect.