Architecture

U-M’s solar house finds new home at botanical gardens

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June 3, 2009

The University of Michigan's solar house might look like it's made to travel but the sustainable solar decathlete has found a home at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in the university's Arboretum.The Michigan Solar House (commonly known as MiSo*) competed in the 2005 Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. The 660-square foot, solar-powered home that kind of looks like a camping trailer was designed and built by a team of 150 students, faculty and local volunteers. The goal was to create a house that produced its own energy. The solar house has been rebuilt in the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and is open for tours. The idea is to help create public awareness for sustainability subjects, such as energy efficiency and solar technology. For information on the tours, call (734) 647-7600.Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

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Entrepreneur profile: Michael Coster of Ann Arbor’s Lumen Christi Church Design

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Arts & Culture

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April 15, 2009

The Ann Arbor resident holds a bachelors of music education from Otterbein College and served four years in a Franciscan monastery. Coster doesn't have a heavy business background, but that hasn't stopped him from starting an increasingly popular church design business.Describe your business in two sentences or less?Lumen Christi Church Design works to design, create and renovate Catholic churches to make them reverent places of prayer. We design, build, create, acquire, coordinate and do whatever it takes for each specific project.Why did you decide to set up shop in Ann Arbor?Simple answer - it's where I live!What are some of the advantages to doing business here?One of our greatest promoters are the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, who have their motherhouse convent in Ann Arbor. Our first project was theirs, and we have become their unofficial chapel designers (and they continue to grow and spread across the country, so they keep us busy)! They are also very well known in the Catholic community, so they've been the connection to many of our other clients.What do you see in Ann Arbor that other people who live outside the area don't?The shadow of the University is everywhere in Ann Arbor.What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about opening a business in Ann Arbor?Be ready for demanding clientele who can be quite particular. Also, be ready for hefty taxes.If you could change one thing about Ann Arbor, what would it be?Honestly, a more conservative community.Source: Michael Coster, co-founder of Lumen Christi Church DesignWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor’s Wright-designed Palmer House sold

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Arts & Culture

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April 1, 2009

One of Ann Arbor's most architecturally significant homes, designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, has a new owner.Excerpt:The Palmer House in Ann Arbor, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's final residential projects and among his best, has found a new owner.San Francisco-based attorney Jeffrey Schox and his wife, Kathryn, both University of Michigan graduates, bought the house from its original owners, the Palmer family, this month. The purchase price was $900,000, according to public records.Read the rest of the story here.

Rizzolo Brown + Novak Architects goes for green in Ann Arbor

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Arts & Culture

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March 25, 2009

The girls behind Rizzolo Brown + Novak Architects may have started their company because of the current economy, but they see the situation as an opportunity.Celeste Alen Novak and Connie Rizzolo Brown fouded their downtown Ann Arbor-based firm last year by focusing on design that incorporates things as eclectic as art and as essential as sustainability. They now have one more employee/intern and two consultants as they continue to take on more work."I think things are challenging but exciting," Rizzolo Brown says. "It breeds a new ways of looking at design and energy issues and containing costs."Rizzolo Brown + Novak Architects is doing that kind of work for Ann Arbor-based Motawi Tile, the Ann Arbor Art Center and People's Food Co-op, among others. Their innovative design work includes materials not normally seen in traditional architectural projects (recycled car window glass) but that doesn't mean they don't take on the less glamoroussustainable work, such as renovating fire damaged apartments or building green homes.The firm tackles every project with three things in mind: design, energy and sustainability."What are the sustainable parameters for working with a client?" Rizzolo Brown says. "How can we push those?"Both Rizzolo Brown and Novak are members of the American Institute of Architects and LEED certified. They also both teach architecture at Lawrence Technological University.Source: Celeste Alen Novak and Connie Rizzolo Brown, principals of Rizzolo Brown + Novak ArchitectsWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor Craftsman homeowners transform ugly duckling into award-winner

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Arts & Culture

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March 4, 2009

The devil may be in the details in this Ann Arbor home, but it sure has a pretty face.Excerpt:When Gerry Duprey bought his 1928 craftsman home at the corner of Pauline Boulevard and Hutchins Avenue in Ann Arbor, he wasn't looking for a new obsession. Instead, he wanted an affordable house close to his work. That it was adjacent to Allmendinger Park was a bonus. The exterior was wrapped in blue and white aluminum siding, and the inside was dominated by pink paint and white carpet. "It looked like a birthday cake," Duprey said. But that didn't bother him too much."I didn't know anything about Arts and Crafts," he said. "I was a Philistine." Read the rest of the story here.

Ann Arbor’s Kadushin Architects designs urban housing

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Arts & Culture

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February 11, 2009

Abraham Kadushin got his start as his own boss when his boss moved on up the ladder.The Ann Arbor resident was working for a non-profit architectural and planning firm in 1975 when his boss was tapped to be the city planner for the city of Detroit. Kadushin took the reigns of the company and created Kadushin Associates Architects Planners.The Ann Arbor-based firm now employs six people, a handful of independent contractors and the occasional intern. It also has an office in Florida.Kadushin specializes in urban developments and affordable housing. It has done lots of projects in Ann Arbor, Florida and Detroit, among other places. Its most recent accomplishments are the highly successful Woodbridge Estates in Detroit and the recently launched Gardenview Estates in Northwest Detroit.The firm plans to take on more sustainable projects, especially with regard to the readaptive use of old buildings, such as old factories turned lofts. "We hope to work with a major landowner (in Detroit) to do sustainable plans for readapting old industrial buildings," Kadushin says.Source: Abraham Kadushin, principal of Kadushin Associates Architects PlannersWriter: Jon Zemke

U-M’s Walgreen Drama Center takes bow for architecture award

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Arts & Culture

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January 28, 2009

"I'd like to thank my mother. And my wife. And my architect..."Miller Theater will take home a nice, new shiny award for the building's architecture.The USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) will give U-M an Architecture Merit Award. USITT is association of design, production and technology professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry.The 97,500-square-foot Drama Center was built last year. Its two floors include classrooms, studios, U-M Theatre & Drama Department offices, wardrobe and scene-building space, and auditorium and the 250-seat Arthur Miller Theatre. The theatre is the only venue named after U-M alumnus Arthur Miller.USITT awards have recognized architectural excellence since 1994. The award helps broaden awareness of innovative and significant designs for contemporary theaters.Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

U-M proposes adding 50,000 square feet to Chrisler Arena

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Arts & Culture

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January 21, 2009

Expanding the University of Michigan's Crisler Arena never seemed to make much sense since the words Ed Martin entered into university vocabulary. Things have changed now that Wolverine fans have their first basketball team to get excited about in a long time.Coincidence or not, U-M officials are making plans to add a "player development center" to the home of Cazzie Russell, the Fab Five and the 1989 National Champions. That 50,000-square-foot addition to the back of the arena comes with a $23.2 million price tag. The idea, which is going before the U-M Board of Regents tomorrow, is to give both the men's and women's basketball teams a place to practice. Both teams use Crisler as their home court.The new proposed facility will have locker rooms, strength and conditioning space and coaching offices. The addition will replace about 60 surface parking spots behind the arena. The university's Athletic Department plans to pay for the project with its own funds and gifts. The Athletic Department wants to start design of the new facility immediately and wants to hire Jickling Lyman Powell Associates to do it.Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor’s Architectural Resource takes home design awards, looking to hire

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December 17, 2008

Architectural Resource walked away with some hardware from the Remodeling Show's 2008 Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards.The Ann Arbor-based firm was the most recognized company at the 30-year-old competition, taking home two first-places awards, four runner-up trophies, and one third-place finish. The awards were in categories like "Room Additions - Less Than $100,000" and "Room Remodel", which were both first-place finishes. Architectural Resource focuses on new home designs, additions and renovations. It handles projects both locally and in places as far away as Portland, Oregon and South Carolina. The boutique firm now employs five people and is looking for two more people. Those jobs are for an architectural designer and business manager.Source: Architectural ResourceWriter: Jon Zemke

Nederveld hires 3 for Ann Arbor office, plans to add 2-3 more

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October 22, 2008

Eighteen months ago Nederveld practically had no presence in Ann Arbor. Today the Grand Rapids-based architecture firm has a four-person office on the city's near north side.Three of those four people were hired within the last year as the 60-person firm (which also has an office in Holland) expanded its presence eastward. It isexpected to hire another 2-3 Ann Arbor employees within the next 90 days. "We wanted to expand and the timing was right," says Terry Sanford, principal of Nederveld. "We're really excited about the Ann Arbor market."Nederveld leaders have been interested in Ann Arbor for some time. They see it as Michigan’s most vibrant area outside of their own Grand Rapids home.The company became interested in Ann Arbor after working with local Tree Town developer Peter Allen. Nederveld's office is at 920 N Main St. a few doors down from Allen’s office. However, that might change soon as the company grows its Ann Arbor office."We're hoping we'll grow out of that space within three years," Sanford says.Source: Terry Sanford, principal of NederveldWriter: Jon Zemke