Our Story

Beginnings

Calvin Jen founded AMDG Architects, Inc. in 1992 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After working for nine years at Domino Farms as Vice President of Real Estate Development & Property Management, Cal decided it was time to return to the practice of architecture. He pursued his vision of owning an architectural firm that fostered personal working relationships with everyone involved on a project, the highest ethical standards, and excellent design. In 1994, Cal moved the firm to the Grand Rapids area where he was born and raised. During this time, AMDG primarily worked on commercial and residential projects.

Foundations

Joining Cal as a partner in 1997 was Peter Baldwin, a former student of Cal's and a long time friend. They soon found themselves with a larger amount of work and greater variety of projects. This necessitated additional staff, which brought Brent Dykstra to the firm, as well as a summer intern. Cal and Peter, both having worked in small, medium, and larger firms, organized AMDG to maintain greater principal involvement and continuity of service. As more architects and administrative help were added, this philosophy became more important.

Painted AMDG sign collage by Cheryl WassenaarGrowth

In February of 2001, AMDG moved from Cal's home office in Lowell Township, Michigan, to a renovated loft suite in downtown Grand Rapids. Numbering 10 full- and part-time employees, the team designed an open office layout to promote collaboration among peers and reinforce the firm's values of excellence, teamwork, and communication. The new office allowed AMDG to triple their workspace and apply advances in technology to marketing, design, and project management efforts. In April of 2001, Tom Sinke and Brent Dykstra were named the first associates of the firm. In April of 2002, Don Cok was named the third associate. All of these appointments were made to recognize the dedication and mutual commitment of these staff members with AMDG.

During the summer of 2005, Cal and Peter were delighted to have Tom and Don join them as shareholders in AMDG Architects. This represented the next natural step in growing the leadership / ownership structure of the firm. At the same time, Peter transitioned to the role of president in keeping with the firm's long-term strategic plan.  Cal retired from architectural practice in 2007 and is now a professor of Business at Calvin College.

Statistics

AMDG designs approximately 30 to 45 projects annually with construction budgets that typically run from $500,000 to $15 million. The result is annual figures of $15-$30 million in construction costs and AMDG billings in the range of $1.5-2.25 million. AMDG has consistently operated with the highest ratio of registered architects to total employees in West Michigan over the past several years. Our team brings over 100 years of cumulative experience in the practice of architecture.  Since 1992, AMDG has completed over 320 projects comprising over 3 million square feet of space and construction costs of over $300 million.