Slow and steady isn't just wining the race for Harley Ellis Devereaux, it's leading to some prolonged growth for the architecture and engineering firm.
The company has hired 40 people over the last year, bringing its overall staff to 226 employees and a couple of summer interns. The business has offices in California and Chicago but the lion's share of its employees are in its Southfield headquarters, a number that has been expanding thanks to new work in areas like corporate business and K-12 education.
"It's ramping up," says Michael Cooper, managing principal of
Harley Ellis Devereaux. "It's been slow growth but it has been steady growth." He adds that he expects that streak to continue over the next year in all of the firm's offices. "People are feeling a bit more confident in what is happening," Cooper says.
Harley Ellis Devereaux has been winning some awards from the
Construction Association of Michigan over the last year. It recently shared "Green Project of the Year" with
Turner Construction for its sustainable design and buildout of the
Community Health and Social Services Center, a LEED Silver certified building, in southwest Detroit. Harley Ellis Devereaux and
DeMaria Building Co were also recognized for one of the "Most Outstanding Projects of 2012" for its work on Wayne State University’s Chemistry Building renovations and expansion.
"It's always nice when the industry and your peers recognize your work," Cooper says, adding that the awards have helped with the firm's public relations and recruiting efforts.
Source: Michael Cooper, managing principal of Harley Ellis Devereaux
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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