Kraemer Design Group Celebrates Twenty-fifth Anniversary and Announces Expansion to Toledo
Note: We can provide photos for this press release as well.
Detroit, Dec 14, 2021 – Robert J. Kraemer, principal and co-founder of Kraemer Design Group, LLC (KDG), announced the firm’s twenty-fifth anniversary and current expansion with new offices in Toledo, OH and Charleston, SC. KDG is a leading architecture, interior design, and consulting firm. KDG brings over 25 years of experience in both adaptive-reuse and new construction projects—with an emphasis on hospitality, multi-family, and commercial markets. In 1996 when the firm began, it was just Bob and Maureen Kraemer working out of their basement. By 2009, the firm had grown to 16 people and relocated to the larger space at 1420 Broadway. KDG grew to nearly two dozen employees by 2011 and has maintained this size since, reaching its goal of 30 employees in 2018. Mark Mardirosian became a principal in 2004 and retired in 2010; Brian Rebain became a principal in 2016. In 2019, our sister company, Intramode, became wholly owned by KDG, further enabling procurement services to work seamlessly with our design services.
“We knew that offering our clients the opportunity to have procurement services and design services both under one roof was an advantage that KDG had over other firms in our area. In 2000, we started to procure contract furnishings, and moved to multi-family residential FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment), and then into hospitality FF&E. KDG’s goal was to give our clients a better end project because we could control the design, the selection and implementation of the space and all its furnishings since we were involved from the initial concept to the last piece of furniture put in place. Now having combined Intramode with KDG, procurement is not an afterthought but part of every conversation with our clients about how to make their projects as successful as possible, KDG Principal, Maureen Kraemer.
Based in the city of Detroit since 1997, KDG has maintained a very strong commitment to the resurgence of Detroit and preservation of its historic assets. KDG has honed its design and technical skills on numerous adaptive re-use, multi-family, hospitality and historic preservation projects. KDG has also provided its services on hospitality projects in 26 states including Texas, Georgia, and New York. Over the years, opportunities have come up for KDG to apply its expertise on projects in other legacy cities including Flint, Toledo, Dearborn, South Bend, Cleveland and Saginaw.
“Our team has the expertise to develop interior design palettes for hotel brands that allow for a unique design aesthetic while abiding by brand standards, what we refer to as a “mixed-standards” approach. Within the last few years KDG has implemented the mixed-standards approach for our Hilton Garden Inn (HGI) Flint, Indigo Cleveland, and Indigo Detroit projects. All these projects require strict brand quality guidelines while also allowing the interior design team liberty of design aesthetic while maintaining brand required guest experience and life safety standards. Additionally, the HGI Flint project was in a historic building and had to comply with historic guidelines which provided our interior design team a beautiful groundwork to be inspired by,” KDG Director of Design, Jennifer Dwyer.
Key to KDG’s success are several proprietary technical tools that have been developed through extensive committee work. Each of the tools is overlapping, allowing rapid development and integration of programming, historic assessment, basis of design, systems design, code review, and quality control of deliverables. The tools produce reports that are issued to clients and are integrated with custom BIM families that underly our drawings. These tools also give KDG an edge in the rapid deployment of design concepts during due diligence on new projects.
“As a project naturally evolves, we are quick to stay ahead of challenges and to implement changes where needed. There are many factors influencing any given project and we are proud to be an adaptive group. We lean on our years of research and development to streamline the production process and have readily available tools and components to transform challenges into opportunities on a project,” KDG Principal and co-founder Bob Kraemer.
KDG has completed numerous award-winning projects, many of which are iconic, beloved, historic assets of the communities they are located in. A partial list includes:
- Albert Kahn Building, Detroit, completed 2021.
- Detroit Free Press Building, Detroit, completed 2021.
- Farwell Building, Detroit, completed 2019.
- Shinola Hotel, Detroit, completed 2018.
- Davit Stott Building, Detroit, completed 2018.
- David Whitney Building, Detroit, completed 2014.
- David Broderick Tower, Detroit, completed 2012.
- Standart Lofts, Toledo, completed 2011.
- Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit, completed 2011.
- Durant Hotel, Flint MI, complete 2010.
- Lofts at Merchant’s Row, Detroit, completed 2005.
“KDG has a well-versed team of individuals that have expertise in construction codes and specifications. This group is invaluable to our clients- providing a service that ensures each project is at peak functionality, efficiency, and design,” KDG Director of Architecture Jen Elmore.
A current KDG project nearing completion is the Fort Industry Square redevelopment in Toledo. The project comprises the adaptive-reuse of ten historic buildings and three non-historic building running a full block along North Summit Street near the waterfront. Fort Industry Square is positioned to have a significant impact on downtown Toledo. Construction started in 2018 and is expected to wrap up in early 2022. The project has a high technical complexity; the buildings were built across three decades from the 1850s through the 1870s and floor levels vary from building to building. Linking the buildings internally and negotiating historic building assemblies benefits from frequent on-site coordination.
“Having a regular presence on site during construction and ongoing coordination with the construction team is beneficial for any project, but it is essential for complex historic buildings. Working collaboratively through the challenges with the construction team to ensure the project’s aesthetic, code and historic requirements are met undoubtedly makes the end result more successful,” KDG Project Architect, Team Lead Amanda Kight, based in Toledo.
KDG headquarters is in Detroit, MI, and we now have fully licensed satellite offices in Toledo, OH and Charleston, SC. Drawing from KDG’s past successes in Toledo’s warehouse district, the current work on Fort Industry Square and the significant opportunities for adaptive re-use and historic preservation work in Ohio, KDG decided to open the office in Toledo, headed by Kight. At the same time, KDG has opened a new office in the Charleston areas, responding to opportunities for work in the southeast region.
“Working at a variety of scales and locations, KDG has deep experience in evaluating historic buildings, community corridors and neighborhoods and understanding a project’s relationships with the surrounding built environment. A priority during the design process is understanding how to build on existing momentum to create spaces that complement the current assets of great neighborhoods while meeting the client’s program. With the understanding of specific characteristics of historic integrity, existing urban context, and open space opportunities, we develop new urban, architectural and interiors solutions to complement the past and present,” KDG Principal and Detroit resident Brian Rebain.
It may seem counterintuitive to expand an office after nearly two years of a globally disruptive pandemic. But KDG leadership prioritized keeping the KDG team together and quickly secured PPP loans. Additionally, the office was able to quickly switch to all-remote operations and continue collaborative work online. Having a full staff, even with a temporary furlough, allowed KDG to continue work on projects with the same level of expertise and integrity. Work was completed this year on the 106 dwelling unit mixed-use project in the Free Press Building, and the 206 dwelling unit apartment building named The Kahn, both adaptive re-use and historic preservation projects in Detroit. KDG also completed a historic survey of 3,500 parcels in the Edison neighborhood of Kalamazoo, MI. Work on the Eddystone in Detroit is also nearing completion. As KDG celebrates 25 years of practice we also look forward to work from our three offices in the years ahead.
“Despite the pandemic, KDG has successfully completed multiple projects in 2021. Our dedication to collaboration with our clients and contractors keeps us motivated and moving toward a successful project completion- even with the challenges of being remote or virtual. KDG has a 25-year history and footprint in Detroit, and we are very excited to expand our endeavors to Ohio and South Carolina. We look forward to working in these communities!” KDG Director of Architecture Jen Elmore.
Learn more at www.thekraemeredge.com
Press Release Contact Name: Nate Lindsey
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 313-965-3399 x 216
Organization Name: Kraemer Design Group
Website or Link: www.thekraemeredge.com
Organization Address / City / State: 1420 Broadway, Detroit, MI