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Apply for SpaceLab's Saturday Market, part of the Detroit Black Business Crawl

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Saturday, Feb. 22 is the Detroit Black Business Crawl! SpaceLab Detroit is sharing our space with makers, creators and vendors to showcase creative, unique home accessories, clothing, and gifts in our 9th floor event space. Interested food vendors, email karenb@spacelabdetroit.com.

Market hours: 10 AM – 5 PM.

Apply today! Vendors will be will be notified by email or phone call.

APPLY FOR THE MARKET

We’ll also have free open coworking. Reserve your seat, and bring your ticket. Drop in at a desk, the work bar or work café to work for the day, and network and collaborate with Detroit’s urban innovators, professionals and entrepreneurs.

Historian and diversity and inclusion advocate Karen Burton introduces audiences to Detroit's Black architects

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SpaceLab’s co-founder and CEO Karen Burton is an educator, historian, and diversity and inclusion advocate in the architecture and construction industry. Along with her colleague Saundra Little, AIA, NOMA, she founded Noir Design Parti, a Knight Arts Challenge winning project that chronicles the projects and career journeys of Michigan’s African American Architects. On Feb. 17, an interview with Karen will air on Michigan Radio where she will introduce listeners to Donald White, AIA, the first Black graduate of the University of Michigan’s College of Architecture and Michigan’s and Alabama’s first licensed Black architect.

Karen and Saundra will discuss the role of Black architects in Detroit’s design history to students in the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) on Feb. 15, and on Feb. 21 at 5:30 PM, they’ll lead a panel discussion with five of Detroit’s leading architects at The University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture.

Karen will also be a panelist on the topic “Revitalizing ‘Main Street'” at the 10th Annual Detroit Impact Conference, the flagship event of the Detroit Revitalization and Business (DR&B) Club at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

First Trade Day of 2020 brings Interior Products to Downtown Detroit

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Interior designers, architects, developers and contractors had the opportunity to view the latest interior products and touch and feel the materials they’ve viewed online while specifying for upcoming projects. Manufacturers representatives we available to give expert advice for application and installation of flooring, carpet, VCT, tile, porcelain tile, acoustical products, lighting, contract furnishings, and more.

Exhibitors:  

Bishop Distributing
LightArt
Dwyer Marble & Stone
Davis Corporate Solutions
R.T. Smith Furniture
Wilsonart
Patcraft
Beaver Tile
MDC Interior Solutions

Mackintosh Contract

3form, Inc. presented the continuing ed workshop, Everything Is Acoustic, overview for architects and interior designers. The workshop included a brief history of acoustics, an in-depth look at acoustic applications, and strategic acoustic design case studies. Additionally, the course addressed key acoustic terminology to aid in the process of specifying acoustic projects.

To participate in upcoming Trade Days, contact Doreen Hunter for more information: doreenh@spacelabdetroit.com, or call 313-379-7000.

SpaceLab 2019 Year in Review

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SpaceLab Members and Collaborators are City Designers, Builders and Subject Matter Experts. 

Among our 2019 signature presentations were Build Out to Open: What to do before building your brick and mortar; Ask the Architects and Designers; and Smart Cities, Smart Citizens. Click each presentation title to hear the discussions.

We continue to showcase new and cutting-edge building products and technology solutions.  

Industry leaders deliver presentations and continuing education workshops at our lunch and learns and tech happy hours. Business building workshops include topics such as sales, marketing and social media, and financial planning. See our first event of 2020 >>>

SpaceLab 7Mile opened August 9th!

We collaborated with Detroit Cabinet Manufacturing to create a neighborhood building and coworking hub. National and city leaders helped us cut the ribbon, and architects, contractors, finance professionals and the Detroit Land Bank Authority were on hand to share how to develop property in the city. Story here >>

We value community partnerships and education.

We support STEAM education by sponsoring events with POWEROrg Math and Excel Village; business education with University of Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship students; and veteran-owned businesses by hosting Bunker Labs. We spread holiday cheer by donating gifts to Mercado Food Hub and Michigan Foster Care Closet.

Our corporate and industry partnerships and collaborations provide value to our members and the professional community.

Partnerships with companies like Davis Corporate Solutions, Patcraft, Detroit Institute of Bagels, and Sprint bring added value to membership at SpaceLab. We collaborate with industry organizations such as the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), Urban Land Institute Michigan (ULI), National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC), American Institute of Architect Detroit (AIA), Design Core Detroit, Noir Design Parti, and many others to offer programming and events to the professional community.

Our CEO Karen Burton completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program with a dynamic cohort of metro Detroit business owners.

Also, we appeared on CBS Eye on Detroit and the Very Detroit radio show and in Sisters from AARP, The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Model D, and Curbed Detroit. Read how SpaceLab began and Karen’s thoughts on entrepreneurship and diversity and inclusion in design and construction >> (opens in a new tab)”>here >>>

2020 Resolution: Be Connected, Be Credible

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How many time have you heard, “It’s not what you know, but who you know?” Building meaningful business relationships is a priority for growing a sustainable business. Here at SpaceLab, we’re grateful for our dynamic community of established professionals – members who support each other by sharing information, procuring services, and collaborating on projects. We not only build structures, communities and cities; we build lasting relationships.

Currently, all of our private offices are rented, but we still have room to grow. We’re creating new opportunities for membership by building out more offices on our 9th floor. And, we have Flex Desk, Dedicated Desk memberships available. Both desk memberships come with 24/7 secured access to the space and conference room time that does not end when we close the front desk at 6 PM.

Our members are urban infrastructure professionals, and we are looking to complement their services with the following services: Web Development, Social Media Ad Marketing, Small Business Accounting, Graphic Design, Mobility, Commercial Real Estate and Construction Tech, and Smart Building Systems.

Make moving to SpaceLab’s professional community your first decision for growing your business in the new year. We’ll waive the application fee through January 31, 2020. (Apply) If you’re all set with space, but know someone who needs it, refer them and we’ll give you a $25 gift card to one of the great restaurants near our office if they become a member.

To your prosperity!

Karen A.D. Burton, Co-founder and CEO

Bobby Burton, Co-founder and COO

Members pen books on business, real estate and design

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SpaceLab members and collaborators have a wealth of experience in their fields. Here are books that have been authored by our business and built environment leaders. They can all be purchased on Amazon.com.

Conversations with the Team that Creates the Dream: Top Female Professionals Who Can Help You Get Wealthy in Real Estate. Deba Harper, contributor.

Crowley’s: Detroit’s Friendly Store by Bruce Allen Kopytek.

Jacobson’s: I Miss It So! by Bruce Allen Kopytek.

Proving Ground: A Memoir by W. David Tarver.

Life, Liberty N’ Property: A Guide to Successful Real Estate Investing by John Delia. On Amazon

Swint Logistics Meets Demand for Construction Trucking

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SpaceLab welcomes Swint Logistics Group, Inc., owned by Cherri Harris, to our community. Swint Logistics is a hauling firm with Domestic and Canadian authority. Services include dispatching, logistics consulting, driver recruiting, and as well as infrastructure consulting services directly related to sewers. The company is a Compliance Specialist.

Cherri spent 15 years as a commercial truck driver. She began her business by running five tractor-trailers for fixed-route deliveries. In 2018, she started a training program for operating gravel dump trucks and then created training programs for long-established road-building companies. Swint was recently hired to create a pre-apprenticeship program for heavy construction trucking for its unionized employees.

Swint Logistics was named a PTAC Best Small Business Honoree at the 2019 Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards sponsored in part by the Michigan Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) and the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Read more about Cherri’s journey in growing Swint Logistics on Crain’s Detroit Business .

SpaceLab Member Audra Carson awarded Olivet College's Distinguished Alumni Award

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Audra Carson, founder, owner and Chief Beautification Strategist at Izzie, LLC and host of the CommuniD Podcast was awarded Olivet College’s Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor presented to alumni for living out the College’s mission and values. One of Olivet classmates also endowed a scholarship in Audra’s name.

When asked why it’s important to her to give back to the Detroit community, Audra responds, “I love the city with my whole heart and I love the people with my whole heart. I couldn’t see myself anywhere else… It is paramount to me that at this moment in history, with society minimalizing authentic connection, that I highlight Detroiters who are creating communities in their unique and beautiful ways.”

Congratulations, Audra!

Read her entire interview with Fox 47 News >>>

SpaceLab Welcomes Non-Profit Consultant Orletta Caldwell

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Orletta Caldwell has hosted workshops at SpaceLab, and now she’s a member. After attending the opening of the 7Mile location, Orletta decided to align her business with our coworking community.

Through her company, Beyond Existing Enterprises, LLC (BEE), Orletta assures that her clients – no matter the size – can build sustainable organizations.  Her approach is to empower the team.

BEE addresses the capacity building needs of nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Services include grant writing, nonprofit start-up filings, strategic planning, capacity building, board development, coalition building, and financial services. Services to for-profits businesses are also available.

Beyond Existing Enterprises logo

Orletta starts with a comprehensive consultation that helps identify gaps and opportunities and delivers a comprehensive report that includes a project plan with timelines and milestones, a cost analysis, and a schedule. BEE also offers a suite of quality products that will help you reach your goals quickly and smoothly. That’s one way the consultancy ensures your success.

Smart Cities, Smart Citizens: A Detroit Design Month Panel Discussion

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Smart Cities use information and communications technologies, including the Internet of things (IoT) sensors, to collect data to efficiently manage resources and share information to improve the quality of government services and citizen welfare.

During Detroit Month of Design, SpaceLab Detroit will present a panel discussion and interactive workshop exploring how Detroit citizens can participate in the design of Smart City projects; their application in our streets, neighborhoods and public spaces; and the potential for smart technologies to promote inclusion and equity in our city.

Panelists will include government officials, designers, urban planners, technology professionals and social innovators. Workshop participants will present issues that plague neighborhoods and the city and develop ideas for smart city technologies that can help reduce or solve problems and increase the quality of services and quality of life.

Panelists:

  • Danna Reyes – Urban Planner, The Mannik & Smith Group (moderator)
  • Joshua Edmonds – Director of Digital Inclusion, City of Detroit
  • W. David Tarver – Founder & President, Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative
  • Juan Shannon, Parker Village (Highland Park)

This event is born out of a discussion with students from Southeastern High School in Detroit. The workshop portion of the event promotes collaboration among citizens, government, designers, planners and others. Detroit residents (community) will be invited to share issues they believe can be resolved through smart city technologies.

This event is an official part of the Detroit Month of Design 2019 program which takes place September 1-30, 2019. Programmed by Design Core, Detroit Month of Design is a citywide celebration of creativity that gathers designers and the greater community to celebrate Detroit’s role as a UNESCO City of Design.