Detroit Mayor Duggan, with developers, announcing the Paradise Valley Cultural and Entertainment District to local press and community leaders in Harmonie Park.

HAA’s design professionals work collaboratively across multiple disciplines, including architecture, landscape architecture, planning, urban design, strategic planning and interior design.

Detroit’s Hamilton Anderson Associates (HAA) has a vision, and that vision is to create a team where the sum of their design solutions is greater than the parts. This simply means that they value inclusive thinking and bring all their ideas and perspectives to the table to create truly unique designs. The multi-disciplinary design firm is a minority business enterprise where big thinking comes from the input of the 
majority. “We draw strength from our collective backgrounds and experiences,” says Rainy Hamilton Jr., FAIA, the firm’s Principal. “This diversity also informs our process—one in which multiple perspectives are valued and well-informed decisions are based on thoughtful, clear analysis.”

Hamilton believes that finding the right people to support the unique HAA culture is paramount. “We are a diverse, self-motivated group of design professionals that possess a passion for creativity and for participating in the urban experience,” he says. “We believe in nurturing a firm culture that promotes and cultivates a high level of team performance.”

The team-centric and collaborative work environment concept evolved from Hamilton’s past experiences working with other professionals and with clients. “I found that teamwork is the only way to be successful,” he adds. “There must be open and honest communication, cooperation and transparency about what the objectives are and why they’re important.”

HAA was founded in Detroit in 1994 on the premise that its unique staff would pool their talents, personalities and backgrounds to build a firm that values unity over uniformity. Their lack of uniformity has opened doors to partner with a diverse mix of clients, and build their brand through the contextually 
responsive solutions evidenced in their work. “Our design process combines rigorous analysis, intuitive 
curiosity and thoughtful execution,” Hamilton adds.

Designing Detroit to be a Come-Back City

HAA is currently involved in three major developments in Detroit: Paradise Valley, Little Caesars Arena and Brush Park. Each is a testament to the urban movement and revitalization occurring in Detroit. The company’s progressive vision for the city and the collaboration taking place between the “private and public” sectors of Detroit, make for an interesting story.

For example, the firm occupies two floors of an old warehouse in downtown Detroit’s Paradise Valley 
Cultural and Entertainment District (PVCED)—a unique destination, home to restaurants, pubs, residential and commercial lofts, two professional sports complexes, and a theater district. As a longstanding neighborhood resident, the firm has a special attachment to the upgrades that are coming to the area.

Just last June, the city of Detroit announced the five teams chosen to re-develop the PVCED surrounding Harmonie Park. Concurrently, the Paradise Valley Cultural and Entertainment Conservancy was formed to create a district plan that would unify and honor the traditions and heritage of Paradise Valley. The team includes Rainy Hamilton, along with community leaders Hiram Jackson, Dennis Archer Jr., George N’Namdi, Patricia Cole, Roger Basmajian and Ismail Houmani.

Paradise Valley was once a thriving African-American cultural district until it was demolished by urban renewal and freeways. A plan to resurrect it came into being about 10 years ago, when the city bought many buildings in the neighborhood; however, the plan was put on hold until the area economy began to make a comeback.

Today, the $52.4 million re-development program includes the following improvements:
• Construction of the boutique Harmonie Club Hotel.
• Mixed-use renovation of two buildings on Randolph Street.
• Creation of residential units over the La Casa de la Habana cigar shop and over 1502 Randolph Street.
• Hastings Place, a mixed-use structure to include retail and parking, along with residential units. Seventeen percent of the residential space will be designated for affordable housing units.
• Creation of the Paradise Valley Jazz Club.
• Expansion of the Hamilton Anderson Associates offices, located at 1435 Randolph Street.

HAA is the architect for both 1435 Randolph and Hastings Place.

New Arena is the Cornerstone of a Huge Detroit Development

Another project that carries the HAA fingerprint is Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, which is set to open in October 2017. This multi-purpose arena will be the new home for the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Pistons. Its sunken bowl design will offer a far better fan experience than the current sports arenas and will also provide gondola seating over the ice during hockey events. HOK is the architect of record with HAA serving as associate architect.

“We draw strength from our collective backgrounds and experiences. This diversity also informs our process—one in which multiple perspectives are valued and well-informed decisions are based on thoughtful, clear analysis.” Rainy Hamilton Jr., Principal, Hamilton Anderson Associates

The arena is a part of the urban renewal effort called The District Detroit. Located in the heart of the city’s downtown, it will ultimately offer a dynamic mix of sports and entertainment venues, including six world-class theatres and three multi-use sports venues. The District Detroit will also provide residential, office and retail developments that connect these venues into one contiguous, walkable community.

Data from the University of Michigan demonstrates that The District Detroit will account for an economic impact of more than $2 billion by 2020 and create 12,500 construction and construction-related jobs as well as 1,100 permanent jobs. To date, The District Detroit has awarded more than $315 million in contracts to Detroit businesses (nearly 60 percent of the total contracts awarded) and more than $500 million in contracts to Michigan businesses (more than 90 percent 
of contracts awarded).

Bringing New Life to Detroit’s Historic Brush Park Neighborhood

Detroit’s Brush Park neighborhood, created in the Victorian era, is undergoing a very dramatic face-lift, with the 
development of City Modern, the area’s largest mixed-use construction project in more than 30 years.

The development includes 20 structures across 8.4 acres. Portions of the $20 million project were awarded to five architectural firms, including HAA. Projects range from apartment buildings and town homes, to carriage houses and duplexes. As master planners, HAA is incorporating architectural diversity, historic preservation, 
neighborhood retail, a string of parks, alleys as sustainable infrastructure, green roofs and shared transportation systems. They will also add ideas and designs from the four other architectural firms participating in this project. The firms include: Boston-based Merge Architects, Los Angeles-based Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, Chicago-based Studio Dwell Architects and Grosse Pointe Park-based Christian Hurttienne Architects.

In addition to the master planning, HAA will lead the production of all landscape architecture, develop form-based design guidelines, incorporate planning services and produce the architectural design for three of the buildings. “With the construction of the new Little Caesars Arena nearby, the Brush Park redevelopment will 
visually express the rebirth of Detroit and represent the first phase of reinvented urban living in Detroit,” Hamilton adds. The design of this plan has already been recognized by the Congress for the New Urbanism, and was awarded the organization’s 24th annual Charter Award Grand Prize.

One especially attractive trait of this project is its attention to inclusive design. The sustainable, walkable 
environment will feature living options for all lifestyles and all ages. The six apartment buildings will provide about 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Plans for affordable and senior housing units are also included in direct response to local community recommendations. Landscaped pocket parks will meander between buildings, bringing cohesion and a sense of place to the walkable neighborhood and giving opportunity for interactions among all types of neighbors.

The Journey Continues

As HAA continues its mission to help Detroit achieve its rebirth vision, Hamilton can’t help but look 
backward as he looks ahead. “I am proud that I took the risk to begin this business journey 23 years ago,” he says. “I am humbled that many design professionals have been part of the journey and have shared in my dream—a dream and vision to rebuild the city of Detroit and other urban areas. And I do have to admit,” he says with a smile, “that it does my heart good to know that my parents are proud of me and my accomplishments.”