Field, Hinchman & Smith was an early version of the major Detroit architectural firm Smith, Hinchman & Grylls (SmithGroup).  During this early launch period, the firm was busy shaping its design identity while also helping to establish the reputation of architectural prestige in Detroit’s most upscale neighborhoods. For proof of this, look no further than […]

Dunlap & Willeke was the architectural firm of E. R. Dunlap and Leonard B. Willeke in the early 20th century, a time when Detroit underwent a rapid transformation into a worldwide industrial giant. One of the city’s formative decades for economic growth and residential expansion, Dunlap & Willeke played a major role in helping shape […]

(John M.) Donaldson & (Henry J.) Meier was one of Detroit’s leading architectural firms in the late 19th and early 20th century, well known for designing some of the city’s most iconic churches, residential homes, and institutional buildings. The firm seamlessly combined classical design with high-level craftsmanship, both of which went a long way in defining Detroit’s […]

Architect F. Gordon Pickell (1881-1949) was a master of his craft who learned everything he knew about constructing prestigious revival-style residences that could withstand the test of time through his studies in New York, Philadelphia, and London. For living proof of his mastery, see the Ormund F. Hunt House at 1517 Burns, one of the […]

David Spicer was a 20th-century architect whose work introduced Detroiters to rising architectural trends, particularly the Prairie School and Craftsman aesthetics that would go on to transform a cityscape still largely devoted to revival styling and traditional design. Gaining prominence at the height of the city’s rise to industrial greatness, Spicer was active at a […]

Edwin W. Gregory (1857-1955) was commissioned to build the homes of a number of Detroit’s early business professionals, civic figures, and industrial executives at the turn of the century. Like many architects who had a hand in shaping the district, Gregory’s work centered around popular revival styles – homes that balanced prestige, presence, and comfort. […]

Dalton R. Wells (1878–1951) was a revivalist architect whose body of work attracted Detroit’s early affluent class. A master of elegant residential architecture and design, he received his formal architectural training in both New York and Detroit, later joining forces with fellow architect Marcus R. Burrowes to start the firm Burrowes & Wells (1910-15), which […]

Crombie & Stanton was an architectural firm that helped set the tone of some of Detroit’s most beloved streetscapes in upper-class enclaves like Indian Village. While not as well-known as some of their contemporaries, the firm’s founders, architects Henry F. Stanton and Charles Crombie, quickly attracted the attention of the era’s upwardly mobile residents thanks […]

Clarence E. Day (1886-1965) was the architect hired by automobile producer Milton L. Briggs, Vice President of Briggs Manufacturing Co., to construct his Palmer Woods home, the “Milton L. Briggs House,” at 701 Balmoral Drive, which sadly suffered severe fire damage on October 9, 2024, while under renovation. One of a handful of early 20th-century […]

Maurice V. Rogers (1898-1985) was a residential architect whose work emphasized sophisticated brickwork, balanced proportions, and elegant yet livable designs. Based in Detroit, he began his career during the city’s rapid industrial expansion period, a time when elite families commissioned expertly crafted residences that reflected their wealth and position within the city’s upper-class social hierarchy. […]

Hugh Taylor Millar (1886-1952) is a prime example of the kind of architects Detroit was churning out in its early days. A master of his craft, he brought to life a number of sophisticated, well-crafted homes that have withstood the test of time, including the John F. McLaughlin House at 638 E. Boston Boulevard in […]

Chittenden & Kotting was in operation from the late 1890s to the 1920s. The esteemed architectural firm of Alpheus W. Chittenden and Charles Kotting, Chittenden & Kotting quickly gained a reputation for their luxurious, refined, and skillfully designed revival style residences (Tudor, Renaissance, and Colonial) – homes sought out by Detroit’s upper-class merchants, industrialists, and […]

Frederick J. Winter was an architect in Detroit during its early residential expansion period. His surviving work is a testament to the solid craftsmanship, cohesion, and high attention to detail that defined Detroit’s streets during its golden age, attracting the attention of some of the age’s most prominent upper-middle-class residents. For proof of this, see […]

Albert Kahn (1869-1942) – also known as “the father of modern industrial architecture” – was one of the most impactful architects of the 20th century. His style revolved around a groundbreaking use of reinforced concrete, especially in factory design, commercial landmarks, cultural institutions, and upscale private residence. In fact, he was so talented at blending […]

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls – each talented in their own right – joined forces to start a respected architectural firm that would go on to construct some of Detroit’s most important commercial landmarks and residential commissions in the early 1900s. Masters of traditional design fused with innovative elements, Smith, Hinchman & Grylls quality workmanship can […]