george m. baker

construction catalyst, tyrannical perfectionist

 While George is a licensed builder with 30+ years of experience in both residential and commercial carpentry and general contracting, his career in construction began on a smaller scale: fashion design and garment fabrication. Educated at Wayne State University (Detroit) and the Fashion Institute of Technology (NYC), his unique perspective and training has fostered the passion and ability to work with projects of various scales, with a wide variety of materials, to a craftsman’s level of detail.  George maintains the critical eye of a frustrated artist. He has a comprehensive understanding of the construction process and ascertains the unique demands of each project from the base level elements and systems to the final touches. Because of these skills, value engineering is one of his greatest strengths, recommending adjustments to construction methods and materials while working with closely architects, interior designers, and engineers to retain the original intent of the design within the budget. 

design catalyst, chief troublemaker

 Erika’s approach to the built environment is fundamentally defined by her foundational experience in psychology and social work, where design is intended to both respond to and elevate the human experience. While she holds a BS in Interior Architecture and Design from Lawrence Technological University (Southfield), her previous BA in Psychology from UM (Ann Arbor) and 8 years experience as a Social Worker in Detroit makes her highly sensitive to the impact of design on corporate, community, and individual levels. With a 20+ year history in design and project management, Erika's work ranges from small, street-level, independent and non-profit developer projects to multimillion-dollar large-scale commercial projects, within a wide array of project types. Because of her positive engagement with small business owners, neighborhood development agencies, and start-up initiatives, she is also sought after as a project facilitator and program consultant. Erika further feeds her creative compulsions by exploring woodworking, welding, painting, and photography.  

Cassandra has always felt that everyone, regardless of their social or financial standing, deserves a comfortable, uplifting place to call home. This has fueled her passion for architecture since she was a child. A graduate from the University of Michigan and the University of Oregon’s Urban Architecture Program, Cassandra has focused much of her career on sustainable design. While Architecture and design are her first loves, she is also a massage therapist who focuses on creating space to heal for those suffering from anxiety and chronic pain. Through the knowledge gained about the human body she has been able to design healthier and more inspiring spaces. She has worked on many types of projects and has had a leading role in all phases of design. 

 Olivia Eshe is an artist from Detroit working in ceramics, furniture and interior design. Her artistry spans from traditional handcrafting techniques to 3D modeling and visualization. Olivia received a BFA in Product Design with a minor in Crafts and Material Studies from the College of Creative Studies. Through her professional career, she leverages her creativity as a tool to serve local communities, placing the users experience at the heart of the design process. Her goals are to design inclusive spaces that elevates our built environment and bring people together.  

A classical and jazz vocalist also pursuing a career in Speech Pathology, Emmanuelle has been finagled into the family business. Assisting with all things admin, she also brings her unique perspective to design with her involvement in the music industry and medical field.