M1/DTW looks to grow at new home in Elevator Building

The Elevator Building isn't just a cool, new place for Christian Unverzagt to grow his business, M1/DTW. It's also pretty convenient location for his lifestyle.

The designer/entrepreneur can now bicycle to his new workspace that overlooks the Detroit River in Rivertown. The recently renovated warehouse-turned-loft-style-office-space also provides the unique work environment that helps define a boutique design agency like M1/DTW.

"It is more compatible as a studio. It has that old charm with a new feeling," says Unverzagt, design director and owner of M1/DTW. "I live in Lafayette Park so I can take the Dequindre Cut to work."

M1/DTW called the Russell Industrial Center home for its first 11 years. Unverzagt was the first person to put money down on space in the Elevator Building (700 square feet) and has moved his team of two people into the building a few weeks ago. He sees the new space to accommodate some expected growth in his business. Unverzagt expects to add 1-2 more people this year as it adds more clients and expands work with its existing customers.

M1/DTW has watched its workload increase in recent months as the economy has begun to rebound. However, Unverzagt wants to focus this new growth on the city. Where as before his firm did a lot of out-of-state work, he expects to do more work helping reshape his city this year. "In 2011 we're doing more work in Detroit," Unverzagt says.

Source: Christian Unverzagt, design director and owner of M1/DTW
Writer: Jon Zemke

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