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David Spicer was a 20th-century Detroit architect who specialized in Prairie School and Craftsman-influenced residential designs.
Gaining prominence at the height of the city’s rise to industrial greatness, Spicer was active at a time when Detroit’s cultural center was shifting northward towards what would eventually become the Wayne State University campus.
His body of work introduced Detroiters to nationally loved architectural trends, particularly the Prairie School aesthetic — transforming a cityscape still largely devoted to revival styling and traditional design.
Spicer’s hallmarks include:
- Balanced horizontal lines
- Natural materials (think limestone and slate)
- Asymmetry and solid geometric massing
- Intricate detailing and subtle ornamentation
For proof of this, see the Williams C. Rands House at 5229 Cass Avenue, which showcases his spectacular Prairie architecture.
Though less widely documented than some of his contemporaries of the era, Spicer played an important role in defining early residential development near Detroit’s cultural and educational hub.
His legacy lives on in one of Midtown’s most architecturally significant historic properties — now carefully preserved and integrated into the modern Wayne State University campus.