Big advocates of Detroit's built environment, Jim Renberg and Tom Atkinson founded
Brush Park Studio, a company specializing in architectural design and construction through historic preservation.
Brush Park Studio takes its name from a near-downtown neighborhood and its grand, historic architecture, though it is actually based in Sherwood Forest, a different historic neighborhood uptown. For Brush Park Studio's founders, being based in Detroit means they will have lots of opportunities to preserve the Motor City's build environment.
"Old world architecture is being taken down at such a fast rate," Renberg says.
The two-person operation doesn't just do work in the restoration of historic structures. It also does new builds that reutilize salvaged materials and historic building methods. The idea is that taking the best from the past creates better, longer-lasting architecture in a world where the phrase 'disposable architecture' is commonly used to describe most new construction.
Brush Park Studio has done work in Florida and out state in Michigan; however, the company is now focusing on work inside the city. It is also looking at setting up a retail presence on Livernois along the Avenue of Fashion to help grow its work inside the city.
"Hopefully we can get that taken care of soon," Renberg says.
Source: Jim Renberg, co-owner of Brush Park Studio
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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