Adaptive reuse and new construction projects totaling more than 1 million square feet expand housing access across neighborhoods citywide
McIntosh Poris Architects is bringing more than 1,100 housing units across Detroit, including 900 Tuscola (left), Fisher 21 Lofts (middle), and 1350 Michigan Avenue (right). Renderings courtesy of McIntosh Poris Architects.
Detroit – McIntosh Poris Architects (MPA) is advancing a significant housing pipeline of more than 1,100 residential units across the greater Detroit area. Comprising more than 1 million square feet, MPA’s projects currently under construction or in the design and planning process capitalize on the firm’s adaptive reuse and new construction expertise designing affordable, missing-middle, and market-rate housing. Collectively, these projects contribute to the ongoing transformation of underutilized sites and historic structures into new housing opportunities across the city.
“With each of these projects, we’re thinking carefully about how housing can contribute to the long-term vitality of Detroit’s neighborhoods,” says Michael Poris, AIA, founding partner of McIntosh Poris Architects. “Whether through adaptive reuse or new construction, our goal is to create places that are grounded in the city’s history while supporting its future growth.”
Among the firm’s largest projects, Fisher 21 Lofts is a 436-unit adaptive reuse multifamily development totaling approximately 496,245 square feet. The project transforms an existing structure, formerly a car-body assembly plant, into a large-scale residential community, reinforcing MPA’s expertise in repositioning legacy buildings for contemporary housing needs.
MPA is also advancing 900 Tuscola, a 96-unit affordable housing development in Detroit’s Midtown West neighborhood. The five-story, 94,000-square-foot project is being developed in collaboration with Procida Development Group and reflects the firm’s continued focus on expanding access to affordable housing through new construction.
At 1350 Michigan Avenue, MPA is combining the adaptive reuse of the former Spaulding Electric Sales and Parts building with a new mixed-use apartment building to create 103 residential units. The Spaulding renovation will create 17 units alongside the existing 86-unit new building, demonstrating a hybrid approach that integrates new and existing architecture.
MPA is also advancing the reuse of three existing buildings and one new mixed-use building alongside Dexter Avenue in Detroit, totaling 54 apartments. The project reflects a hybrid approach to housing delivery, integrating multiple building types into a cohesive residential community.
Located in Detroit’s historic Brush Park neighborhood, Edmund Place is a 60-unit multifamily development that contributes to the area’s ongoing residential growth. The project reflects a contextual approach to infill housing within one of the city’s most actively developing districts.
Additional adaptive reuse work includes the Higginbotham Art Residences, a 100-unit affordable housing project that transforms a historic 1926 former school building into new residential units. The development reflects MPA’s continued focus on preserving Detroit’s architectural heritage while introducing needed housing.
“Projects like these show how thoughtful design and development partnerships can unlock the potential of existing buildings while creating new housing opportunities,” said Matthew Temkin, Founding Partner of Greatwater Opportunity Capital, developer of the MPA-designed Amsterdam Lofts and Brainard Flats, both of which opened in 2025. “McIntosh Poris Architects has been a strong partner in helping bring these kinds of projects to life.”
Other projects in the pipeline include Lee Crest & Chatham, a 173-unit multifamily renovation; Alumnifi Soccer Stadium Housing, a 104-unit multifamily project; the Historic Residences at Saint Clair, an 18-unit adaptive reuse of a historic Grosse Pointe school; Notre Dame Townhomes, an 8-unit townhome project; and Wallace Estates, a 40-unit multifamily development.
Together, these projects represent a broad cross-section of housing typologies and approaches, from large-scale adaptive reuse to targeted infill and ground-up development. As Detroit continues to evolve, MPA’s work reflects an ongoing commitment to expanding housing at multiple scales while contributing to the long-term vitality of the city’s neighborhoods. These projects represent one of the more substantial active housing pipelines led by a single architecture firm in Detroit today.
About McIntosh Poris Architects
Detroit-based McIntosh Poris Architects—AIA Michigan’s 2024 Firm of the Year—believes in the power of design as a catalyst for change, transforming communities through creative, interactive city building. Since 1994, the architects and urbanists of McIntosh Poris Architects have delivered architecture, interior, and urban design services for commercial, residential, and institutional clients across the U.S. Led by principals Michael Poris, AIA, Laurie Hughet-Hiller, AIA, and John Skok, AIA, McIntosh Poris Architects has won more than 160 design awards, including 30 regional and national AIA awards and a ULI Global Award for Excellence. Poris is a recipient of the prestigious Charles Blessing Award from Detroit AIA.
