The Best Residential Architects in Michigan

Last updated on July 16th, 2024 at 12:28 am

Choosing the right residential architect in Michigan is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success of your home project. A skilled residential architect not only tailors designs to your specific needs and preferences but also navigates the unique conditions of your site and the complexities of local regulations and laws. Their expertise ensures your home complies with all building codes and zoning requirements, avoiding costly delays and legal issues. Moreover, they offer innovative design solutions and prepare alternative designs to maximize the efficiency and use of your spaces. This ensures that your new home perfectly reflects your vision while adhering to regulatory standards. 

The demand for skilled architects is substantial in Michigan, where the population is approximately 10.03 million, and the median home value is $240,000. Residential projects in the state typically range from $100,000 to $400,000, with high-end projects reaching up to $500,000. The cost per square foot averages $67.87, and projects can take up to nine months to complete, underscoring the importance of selecting an architect who can manage timelines effectively and navigate potential challenges.

This article will highlight some of the best residential architects in Michigan. These professionals are renowned for their expertise, innovative designs, and ability to deliver personalized, efficient, and beautiful homes. Whether planning a modest remodel or a luxurious new build, finding the right architect is essential to ensure your project is handled professionally and creatively. By choosing one of these top architects, you can be confident that your home will truly reflect your style and needs.

Overview: The Best Residential Architects in Michigan

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more.

McIntosh Poris Inc.

36801 Woodward Ave, Ste 200. Birmingham, MI 48009

McIntosh Poris Inc. is a team of architects and urbanists who believe in the power of design as a catalyst for change. Principals John Skok and Michael Poris lead the firm in its mission to become the predominant partner for the people and communities it serves. John received his degree in architecture from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2000. His specialty is adaptive reuse and interior architecture, contributing to notable MPA projects, such as the Country Club of Detroit, Woodward Garden Theater, and Parent Street Lofts.  Poris received his degree in science from the University of Michigan and his Master in Architecture at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles.

McIntosh Poris Inc. is nationally recognized as a leading architecture and interior design voice. Its work has received over one hundred design awards, including the 2021 AIA Michigan Honor Award and Detroit Design Award.

DesRosiers Architects

36330 Woodward Avenue Suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

Founded by third-generation architect Louis DesRosiers, DesRosiers Architects began with a vision to design the finest custom homes in Michigan. For 50 years, it has created distinct residences that seamlessly integrate the natural environments around them. Its designs transcend singular styles, from the most classic to traditional and modern homes. The AIA-certified firm approaches each project with a fresh perspective, assessing each client’s goals and lifestyle and then bringing their vision to life. Among the leading Michigan residential architects, it was featured in an article from the Wall Street Journal.

Various media outlets, such as Fox 2 Detroit, The Wall Street Journal, Florida Design, and Detroit Home Magazine, have featured its award-winning structures. The firm has received hundreds of awards and recognition and holds the record for the most Detroit Home Design Awards won. It honors its mission to design refined, awe-inspiring, and timeless structures. It embraces the latest technologies and the finest materials to produce impeccable projects.

Mathison Architects

560 5th St NW #405, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Founded on the conviction that architecture, planning, and design elevate lives, Mathison Architects continually discovers new opportunities to improve function, comfort, and sustainability. By connecting people’s aspirations with strong, evocative architectural forms, it is able to rigorously plan and execute ideas and enhance the dialogue between subject and place. A renowned firm among the architects of Michigan, it has a project featured in Architect Magazine.

Headed by Megan Feenstra Wall and Evan Mathison, it recognizes that ongoing collaboration is critical. It employs a collaborative, confident approach that invites diverse voices to contribute to the design process. It comes with a growing team of experienced architects and designers in various project typologies, sizes, and complexities. The team’s skills have been extended and honed at both a national and global level. Its academic, professional, and experiential knowledge helps add insight and fresh perspective to each project.

Allegretti Architects Inc.

500 Main St., St. Joseph, MI, 49085

Allegretti Architects Inc. is an architectural and planning firm founded three decades ago. It is nationally recognized for its socially conscious, affordable, and sustainable housing designs. This philosophy and the firm’s devotion to environmentalism have enabled it to create “organic architecture.” 

The firm’s work can be found in twenty-seven states and Europe. Some of its projects have received four dozen American Institute of Architects design awards. The Detroit Home Awards gave it the honor award for Sustainable Design, and it also received the Merit Award for Sustainable Design from the Southwest Michigan Chapter AIA.

Allegretti sees its mission as a social responsibility and strives to harmonize the best environmental practices and client-responsive solutions in each project. The AIA-accredited firm’s passion for quality-driven decisions can be seen in its architectural solutions.

Kevin Hart and Associates

700 East Maple Road Suite #101, Birmingham, MI 48009

This firm specializes in designing homes with an emphasis on historical restoration and custom home design. It has dedicated its thirty-one years in the industry to perfecting homes. The firm has operated under its namesake, Kevin Hart, who began his career journey with a clear understanding of history, tradition, and construction. His background from the University of Notre Dame Architecture School guides the firm in following the concepts of proportion, harmony, rhythm, and scale in its projects. 

It has received design awards for historical restoration, contemporary residential design, and traditional residential design architecture. It also ensures that a close relationship is established with the owners to define the needs of their unique home. Accurately communicating these design details to the qualified builder is vital to the project’s success. Kevin Hart and Associates is a certified AIA and an affiliate professional of Great Britain’s Royal Society for the Advancement of Arts and Sciences. It is also a verified principal of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

CBI Design Professionals, Inc. 

838 W. Long Lake, Suite 110, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

CBI Design Professionals, Inc. is an award-winning architectural firm committed to delivering unique projects. The firm is known for its French Country, Cape Cod, modern, and colonial designs but is mainly lauded for its ability to bring old homes to life. 

CBI Design Professionals has over 25 years of experience under the leadership of co-founder and President Robert Clarke. Robert and his team have designed and helped their clients manage some of the finest new residential homes and renovations in the area. Clients appreciate CBI’s attention to detail and the individualized focus the team provides.

HF:architecture

512 N. Main Street, Suite #100, Royal Oak, MI 48067

HF:architecture revitalizes the natural and built environment through sustainable building materials and innovative design solutions. It is committed to excellence in architecture and strives for a balance of function, structure, and beauty in each design. It understands each client’s needs and desires, which enables it to create unique projects and establish long-lasting client relationships. Often, HF:architecture’s projects are contemporary and modern cottage designs.

HF:architecture is led by design principal Brian E. Howard. He possesses over 20 years of experience creating award-winning architecture. The successful nature of these projects enabled them to receive accolades and distinctions from various organizations, including  Best Vacation Home Under 3000 Square Feet and Best Contemporary Interior Design from the Detroit Home Design Awards.

AMDG Architects Inc.

25 Commerce, SW Suite 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Designing a second home is a passion for AMDG Architects Inc. and its clients. This full-service architecture firm is dedicated to understanding, serving, and advancing the client’s mission by shaping their environment. This is why its process begins with carefully understanding every homeowner’s goals and aspirations. Among the top architects in Michigan, it oversees a range of essential disciplines, including master planning and geographical considerations, and helps select suitable finishes and tackle any challenges it encounters. 

President Peter Baldwin, AIA, NCARB, leads AMDG Architects. His passion stems from the belief that architecture builds and strengthens a community through space transformation. Peter also enjoys creating collaborative teams and tailored processes while building upon the strengths of various team members. The firm operates under a set of AIA and NCARB-affiliated professionals and serves clients throughout Michigan. 

VanBrouck & Associates

360 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, MI  48009

VanBrouck & Associates was founded with a shared passion for classic, timeless architecture and design. Founders John and Donna VanBrouck work with a talented in-house team of architects, engineers, and two award-winning interior designers. The firm has designed an extensive and impressive body of work with luxury residential projects nationwide. 

Each project represents immense design creativity, resulting in homes with refined elegance and attention to detail. This creates the perfect balance of function, charm, and character. Each design is tailored to meet the client’s needs and desires, with sensitivity to the environments where it is built. The firm is particularly lauded for its expertise in blending classic, timeless architectural antecedents and authentic period details with an innovative, modern-inspired home design aesthetic.

It has been recognized with over 160 design awards and has been featured in many design and building publications. It has been an eight-time winner of the Best Overall Home Award and a six-time winner of the Reader’s Choice Award for the annual Detroit Home Design Awards.

AZD Associates

6905 Telegraph Suite, 230 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301

AZD Associates-Architects is a full-service architecture and design firm based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It serves clients across the country, as well as in Canada and the Caribbean. Established by former college roommates Kevin Akey and Frank Zychowski, the firm has become a pacesetter in the industry. Kevin leads the residential department, and Frank oversees the company’s commercial side. Together, they operate one of the famous Michigan architects that improve architecture and design. 

For nearly 30 years, AZD Associates-Architects has utilized innovative thinking and a passion for design to forge a nationally recognized company. Striving for excellence, the firm has received more than 120 design awards. Some of their most impressive projects were showcased in various media outlets, including HGTV, Better Homes and Gardens, and Architectural Digest.

Angelini & Associates

200 Huronview Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Angelini & Associates provides innovative, high-quality architectural design solutions. One of the leading Michigan residential architects, it offers its services for residences in the Ann Arbor area and throughout Michigan. 

Owners Brad and Theresa Angelini are a husband and wife team, and they collaborate on every project design, which enables them to have a successful partnership. Both have experience teaching at the University of Michigan and are active AIA Huron Valley Chapter members. Today, the company draws upon its staff’s wide range of professional experiences and talents. Its staff members are either registered architects or architectural designers working toward registration. The firm has produced designs for over 700 projects. It has also been featured in several publications, including the most recent article in The Modern Residence.

Saroki Architecture

430 N., Old Woodward, Birmingham, MI 48009

Saroki Architecture believes that excellent architecture can be achieved at every level. The firm’s work has improved the quality of life in many communities. Its exposure has advanced the course of sustainable and durable architecture in Michigan. The firm utilizes the best principles of urban design and sustainable architecture, resulting in spaces with obvious synergy and resonance. Its buildings have created places and attractions that have evolved many communities’ social, cultural, and financial well-being. Among the famous Michigan architects, it has a project featured in ArchDaily.

The firm’s impressive range has enabled it to receive various accolades. In its years in the industry, it has received the 2016 Building Award: Royal House Recording from AIA Michigan and the 2015 Gold Medal for president and founder Victor Saroki, FAIA. Saroki’s expertise lies in residential and commercial architecture for clients surrounding the Birmingham area. 

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of architects, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the residential architects in the Michigan area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.