Grand Rapids was formerly known as America’s Furniture Capital for its exquisite home furniture. It is also the second largest city in Michigan, located close to the breathtaking Grand River, which flows through this beautiful part of the country. The city is a sanctuary for many things, but it is especially appealing to art lovers as there are numerous art museums and galleries in Grand Rapids.
There are many reasons why this charming city is a great choice for settling down. If you’re also to build a home in Grand Rapids, here is a list of the area’s top residential architects. The firms were chosen after our editorial team looked into their background, affiliations, previous projects, awards, and press features.
42 North LLC
6744 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI 4954
42 North LLC is a boutique architecture and design firm servicing the great state of Michigan and beyond. The driving force behind 42 North’s boutique background is owner and principal Ryan La Haie. Like many people who acquire a unique skill, Ryan knew from a very young age he loved architecture—its forms, materials, and craftsmanship.
42 North LLC has provided its services to the residential and commercial sectors since 2014. In 2021, the firm won the American Residential Design Awards in several categories, including Indoor Living, Unbuilt Custom Home, Built Custom Home, and Working Drawings. 42 North has likewise been featured by publications like Cosmopolitan Home Magazine and Michigan Home & Lifestyle for its work.
AMDG Architects, Inc.
25 Commerce SW, Suite #300, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
AMDG Architects is a full-service architecture firm dedicated to understanding, serving, and advancing its clients’ mission by shaping their environment. AMDG began as a partnership between four architects wrestling with how to bring greater purpose to their practice. At the time, three were University of Michigan Architecture School students. Calvin Jen, who established the firm in 1992, was their professor.
Two years after launching the company, Cal moved AMDG from Ann Arbor to his hometown of Grand Rapids. Peter Baldwin, among the original four, reunited with his professor, joining in 1997. The two quickly picked up on where they left off, innovating their approach to design and business. Under Peter’s supervision as president are the seasoned experts that make every AMDG project a success. Some team members have affiliations with the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council West Michigan Chapter, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. AMDG has also been featured in Great Lakes by Design Magazine.
Integrated Architecture
840 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Integrated Architecture is an architecture firm that leads by design, aligning people and places with ideas and industry. Established in 1988, the firm blends its years of experience with a proven ability to discover the unique story of its clients and uncover design solutions that reflect their current state and future trajectories. The company’s solutions focus on sustainable, human-centered design, set in award-winning spaces.
Integrated Architecture is led by Michael Corby, FAIA as president. It specializes in commercial, office, hospitality, retail, civic, industrial, and residential buildings. With decades in the business, its work has earned praise from various industry organizations—it’s been the recipient of awards like the Masonry Institute of Michigan Excellence in Masonry Design and the AIA Grand Rapids Building Honor Award given by the AIA Michigan Honor Awards.
Lucid Architecture
201 W Washington Street, Suite #250, Zeeland, MI 49464
Lucid Architecture is a renowned architecture and design company collaborating with clients across the country to develop uniquely modern residential homes and commercial projects along Lakeshore and the greater Michigan region. During its decade in the industry, the firm has honed its award-winning design process while partnering with dozens of clients on projects located both near and far. Its work is as intentional and functional as beautiful and provoking. Every project the team builds is responsive to the user, the site, and the environment while being accessible, appropriate, and authentic.
Among the many honors Lucid Architecture received is the 2021 AIA Honor Award for Mercer Residence and multiple AIA Grand Rapids Awards for its works on Pigeon Creek Residence, the Lake Allegan Residence, and the Pleasant Street Residence.
Via Design Studio
44 Grandville Avenue SW, Suite #400, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Via Design Studio is a team of creative problem solvers offering full-service architecture, interior, and furniture design for commercial and residential projects. The firm creates custom design solutions that reflect its client’s aesthetic. Its experienced team has a broad range of skills and expertise to respond to various project ranges.
Under the supervision of founder Valerie Schmieder and principal architect Brian Barkwell, Via Design Studio’s services are custom-tailored to meet each client’s unique goals. Customers can trust that their project is in safe hands when partnering with the firm, especially with the help of seasoned experts. Some of the firm’s members hold affiliations with the American Society of Interior Designers, the International Interior Design Association, the American Society of Furniture Designers, and the National Council for Interior Design.
Elevate Studio Architecture Design
2026 Joan Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Elevate Studio Architecture Design started in 2006 as Studio JV|A, a Grand Rapids, Michigan architectural design and consultancy practice.
Jim VanderMolen established the firm to specialize in the planning and designing spaces for the spiritual and social community after 18 years of professional development and success with a regional company and with a goal for a highly personal, hands-on strategy for collaborative work and client participation. Jim is the design architect, project manager, and studio leader with over 35 years of expertise.
The firm’s services include architectural and interior design, documentation, and consultation for pre-design programming and facility evaluation, master planning, feasibility studies, and interactive consensus-building visioning workshops, all under Jim’s leadership and supervision. The studio’s work can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, the San Francisco Bay Area of California, Northwest Washington state, and the American Mission Hospital in Bahrain.
Sears Architects
16 Ionia SW, Suite #1, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Sears Architects is a boutique architecture and planning company that develops personal relationships with its clients as it designs its individual, award-winning projects. Known and respected nationally for its outstanding design and meticulous attention to detail, the firm enjoys the positive feedback of many repeat clients. Its clients include private individuals, historic residential associations, and private developers.
Robert Sears leads Sears Architects, and its projects are found as far Seattle, Florida, New Jersey, and across the state of Michigan. The team at Sears Architects combines their backgrounds and abilities to guide a project from concept to successful completion.
The firm has received multiple honors, showcasing the quality of its work. Some of these include the 2004 Merit Award and Grand Award from by the Builder’s Choice Design and Planning Awards for its works on the Mossburg Building and the Bay Street Cottage.
Maxam Architecture
557 Crescent NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Maxam Architecture is a commercial, residential, and industrial design firm with design-build relationships throughout West Michigan. It is based in Grand Rapids and led by David Maxam as principal and owner. David has 19 years of experience providing architectural design and project management services for commercial, residential, and historic preservation projects. He is a licensed architect under the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and a LEED-accredited professional.
Helping David lead the team is Elizabeth Ballmer, who provides detail-oriented architectural design and drafting for commercial projects. She has eight years of experience designing for general offices, medical, restaurants, financial institutions, and multi-family residential projects.
Create 3 Architecture, PLLC
100 Grandville SW, Suite #200, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Create 3 Architecture, PLLC (C3A) began in 2004 as a side business to supplement the income of its owner, Jim Brodi. Working two jobs in 2012, Jim had to decide whether to continue moonlighting or leave his current work at a small architectural firm. Jim pondered becoming self-employed for some time before deciding to take the plunge.
Create 3 began to flourish into a boutique practice due to its creative design and genuine relationships with C3A projects and clients. The firm is licensed in several states and has project experience in medical, dental, multi-family, assisted living, restaurant, retail, residential, manufacturing, faith-based, and adaptive reuse projects. The team behind C3A vows to be an advocate throughout the construction process and, once it is complete, continue its relationship with its clients.
