Kraemer Design preparing to grow from 19 to 30

Despite a sluggish economy, Kraemer Design Group is growing. The downtown Detroit-based architecture and interior design firm currently has 19 employees in its eleventh year, but is moving to a new 10,000-square foot office that will house up to 30 -- enough space for room to grow into the future.

Recent KDG design work includes the Watermark and Griswold -- both of which are unfortunately off to a slow to start in light of the local condo market -- as well as Google's offices in Ann Arbor and Birmingham.

The company does not stick to one particular design style, instead working to meet their client's needs and wishes. "The Griswold is a traditional design, the Watermark is contemporary," says principal Bob Kraemer. "Google's offices are another extreme altogether."

Kraemer has traditionally employed graduates from University of Detroit Mercy and Lawrence Technological University. That net has widened of late, with recent hires coming from University of Michigan and University of Ohio. "We're starting to see more national candidates," says Kraemer. "We're tending to hire through monster.com as opposed to the traditional paper method."

Kraemer attributes his firm's success to the ability to retain clients as repeat customers and its flexibility. "We followed the dot-com boom, the contemporary office boom," he says. "We're not sure what's around the corner, but entertainment and housing seem to be the main focus of downtown."

Whatever the trend, Kraemer will be ready to adapt -- but one thing will remain the same: "We pride ourselves on high quality work, both in design and the quality of our construction drawings," he says.

KDG will take occupancy of its new offices, located on Broadway in the Opera House Retail Center, on April 1.

Source: Bob Kraemer, KDG
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh