Architecture

New apt building planned for south of downtown Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

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November 11, 2015

A new mid-rise apartment building is heading for the greater downtown Ann Arbor area. The Residences at 615 South Main will replace three commercial buildings on the 600 block of South Main with a six-story apartment building. Plans have recently been submitted to the city and the approval process is expected to go on through this winter. The development would go up across the street from 618 South Main, another mid-rise apartment building that opened earlier this year. The Residences at 615 S Main would feature ground floor commercial space and 245 units, including townhomes, micro-studios (less than 400 square feet), studios, two-bedroom, three-bedroom, four-bedroom, and five bedroom units. "We probably have the most diverse collection of housing for any development in the city," says Brad Moore, president of J Bradley Moore & Associates, which is the co-architect on the project. About 51 percent of the units are comprised of the studios, micro studios and townhomes. The larger bedroom-count units only account for a handful of units. The townhomes will feature two bedrooms and a flex space for a potential work-from-home business. Moore says the development isn’t targeting any one specific demographic. "Anybody who wants to live close to downtown," Moore says. "We imagine the micro studios will be popular with people who work downtown and want to live close to downtown without paying a lot of money." The development will also feature one floor of underground parking of about 180 parking spots. It will also have 5,000 square feet of commercial space where the builders plan to incorporate an 19th Century buggy factory into the overall development. The current businesses that occupy the commercial space The Residences at 615 South Main will replace will also be given an opportunity to reopen in the new building. "It's possible some of the tenants from the existing buildings could locate into the new buildings," Moore says. The development is currently scheduled to go before the city's Design Review Board later this month. The approval process is expected to take the rest of this winter and possibly go into the spring. A construction timeline is roughly set for 14-18 months. Source: Brad Moore, president of J Bradley Moore & Associates Writer: Jon Zemke

Latest in Architecture

Deconstructing the past for a zero-energy future

By Jon Zemke

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Arts & Culture

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July 22, 2015

After 30 years of neglect, two century-old Ann Arbor homes are being salvaged, nail-by-nail, for use in a new commercial net-zero energy building. How cool is that?

Damian Farrell Design Group grows thanks to diversified workload

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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June 10, 2015

It seems like Damian Farrell Design Group's client project cup runneth over. The Ann Arbor-based architecture firm is handling a lot of residential remodeling, designing a multi-family project in Saline, working on an adaptive reuse of a historic building in downtown Saline, designing a couple restaurants, and doing work for a shooting range in Ann Arbor. "We have always had a pretty good variety of work," says Damian Farrell, owner of Damian Farrell Design Group. "This is just an extension of that." He estimates his company’s revenue is up 10-15 percent over the last year. It's growth that has allowed him to hire an architect and two interns, expanding his staff to seven employees and two interns. Farrell points out that the design and building industries are stronger now than they have been in years, and there is a shortage of skilled workers developing in them. He adds the market isn’t as good as it was before the Great Recession but its on its way there. "We want to continue what we’re doing," Farrell says. "Every market we are working in we are noticing growth." Source: Damian Farrell, owner of Damian Farrell Design Group Writer: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor’s A3C moves to new downtown office space

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 13, 2015

A3C never had any intention of moving from its headquarters in downtown Ann Arbor. The boutique architecture firm had made downtown its home early on, and built up a sustainability nerd's palace, complete with geothermal heating, solar power, and a green roof. After 33 years, it was doing just fine, having weathered the Great Recession. It was adding staff and working on innovative projects. Then a knock came on its door with an offer to buy its building. "We were given an offer we couldn't refuse," says Dan Jacobs, founding partner of AC3. "We had no intention of ever moving our office." Jacobs and his team turned down that first offer. Then came another bigger offer, and another one. A friend in the community reached out and explained the original offer is coming from a group of local tech business people who want to use the property and others surrounding it to create a cluster of office space for tech startups. The money and the argument for further economic development was enough to sway Jacobs. "We saw some real benefits for ourselves," Jacobs says. "It's also a great opportunity for the local community." That put AC3 into a rush to find a new home for it and its growing staff. The firm has hired a new person over the last year, expanding its employee base to 10 people. It's looking to add another team member now. The firm has a lead on a new office, but the deal fell through. Then a new option to take over its original office came up at the last second. Jacobs and his team jumped on the chance to occupy the office on the second floor of a West Liberty Street building in downtown Ann Arbor. "I walked up the stairs for the first time in 20 years and has a deja vu moment," Jacobs says. Source: Dan Jacobs, founding partner of AC3 Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Robert White and Brienne Willcock at Illuminart's downtown Ypislanti office

Illuminart: Thinking smart about lighting

By Patrick Dunn

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General

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February 4, 2015

Think about light. Consider how it impacts the way you live in your home or do your work. Think about how it makes you feel warm and welcomed… or uncomfortable and creeped out. That's what the designers at Illuminart in Ypsilanti evaluate with every project they tackle. It's an under-appreciated aspect of architectural design - something Michigan businesses are only beginning to recognize.

Toledo-based architecture and planning firm to open Ann Arbor office

By Natalie Burg

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Arts & Culture

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December 10, 2014

Downtown Ann Arbor's creative talent pool is set to grow deeper in 2015. Toledo-based architecture, design and planning firm The Collaborative has announced plans to open their second office at 206 S. Main St. "One of our main goals in opening this new office is to become a integral part of downtown Ann Arbor as well as the University of Michigan," says The Collaborative Director of Marketing Brook Jones. "The Main Street location allows for just that." Renovations on their space have already begun and some employees are already working there. The Collaborative aims to complete work by end of January and have a soft opening in late spring of next year. Renovations to the space include interior work and social workspaces. "The Collaborative is an amazing place to work," Jones says. "We are a forward-thinking design company rooted in the belief that delivery of an excellent product will always set you apart." The total number of jobs to be created by the new office is not yet known, though Jones says the firm is always looking for new talent. The new office will contribute to The Collaborative's plans to continue to grow their higher education and corporate client relationships, and to retain and recruit exceptional people. Source: Brook Jones, The Collaborative Writer: Natalie Burg

Ann Arbor architecture firm reimagines the city of the future

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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October 15, 2014

Welcome to the age of the megalopolis, where networks rather than borders define our community and commerse. Or so imagines a local architecture firm at a new exhibition at the Yale School of Architecture. Excerpt: "“Infra Eco Logi Urbanism” is the result of a research project devised by Geoffrey Thün, Kathy Velikov and Colin Ripley of RVTR, an architecture firm with offices in Toronto and Ann Arbor, Mich. Their approach illustrates one aspect of a sea change among architects: In the past few years, urban planners and design professionals have become much more intent on confronting such consequences of unchecked growth as air pollution, traffic congestion, contaminated waterways, blighted landscapes and invasive sprawl. They believe that inspirational planning can help make things better." Read the rest here.

Arborlight starts to sell new LED technology across U.S.

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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October 15, 2014

Arborlight is starting to go national this year, and has its sights set on some big milestones in 2015. The Ann Arbor-based tech startup is starting to sell its sun-light-like LED lights across the country. It now has a backlog of orders amounting to $150,000 and is gearing up to start selling both a commercial and residential version soon. "We have made tremendous strides,”"says Mike Forbis, CEO of Arborlight. "We have completed product development." The 4-year-old company is creating a "daylight emulation system." Think of it as an energy-efficient LED light that can imitate sunlight down to the color, temperature, and other subtle details. The technology has an algorithm that is connected to a weather forecast, allowing the LED to behave in the same way as the outside lighting. Arborlight has developed a commercial version that is 4 feet by 4 feet. It also recently came out with a 2 foot by 2 foot version that can be used in residences. The company has fielded orders from architects across the U.S. "We have a fair amount of interest and traction," Forbis says. Arborlight is in the process of raising a $1 million Series A after raising $500,000 in seed capital last year. Forbis hopes to close on the Series A before the end of the year. The company is currently made up of six employees and the occasional summer intern. It has hired three people over the last year, including marketing and sales professionals. Forbis expects his staff to reach eight people by next year. Source: Mike Forbis, CEO of Arborlight Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Going net zero energy: How one Ann Arborite embraced sustainability

By Patti Smith

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General

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July 30, 2014

Over the last decade Matt Grocoff has turned his Old West Side home into a net zero energy residence, hoping to certify it as the second such home in the United States. And while that bar might be set a bit high for the average Ann Arborite, he offers some important thoughts about what we can do in our own community to live more sustainably.

Ann Arbor historic architecture captured in new book

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 21, 2014

A hero to some, a villain to others, there's little doubt that The Ann Arbor Historical Foundation has deep love and appreciation for Ann Arbor's architectural identity. To wit, they have released a new book: Historic Ann Arbor: An Architectural Guide, which describes over 350 vintage local buildings. There's a book signing event with the authors tomorrow at the Ann Arbor City Club at 1830 Washtenaw Ave from 4-8pm. Check it out. More info here.