Category: Coworking

Meet Mari Byrd

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Mail Coordinator and Office Assistant at SpaceLab | Owner of Accessories by Gigi

In November, Mari Byrd joined the team at SpaceLab Detroit to assist with our growing virtual office and mail service. She has quickly become a valuable part of our entire community, helping to nurture our welcoming atmosphere.

Mari Byrd

Mari is an entrepreneur; she owns Accessories by Gigi and is designing and developing a line of high-end handbags. The company’s new website will be live soon. (Ask her about “Full Circle.”). See her discussion with NextOpp Social on Embracing Small Beginnings on the Way to Merchandising Success.

Previously, Mari was Business Liaison for Detroit’s District 2, working with Councilman Roy McCalister, Jr., connecting with and assisting business owners in problem solving, identifying opportunities for capital, talent resources, and business support from various City Departments. Her professional experience also includes managing art galleries at Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion and consulting as an event planner.

New! Content Creation Rooms

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All new! Content Creation Spaces are available in downtown Detroit. Reserve rooms for: podcasting, video interviews, training and online course videos, photo shoots, social media content and more.

Special Introductory Rate for Non-Members of SpaceLab: $50/hour.

SpaceLab Members can include content studios as part of their monthly meeting room booking.

HD webcams, microphones, lighting, black and white backdrops, and green and blue screens are available for use with rental. Camera equipment not yet available for rent.

Contact us at info@spacelabdetroit.com or 313-379-7000 for more information, for a tour, or to book space.

SpaceLab at Work: Meet Madison

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Who’s the new face at SpaceLab. Madison joined us about 6 months ago as a high school intern and Mail Associate. She makes sure all of the mail we receive is sorted and distributed professionally. Madison is organized and very meticulous is her work and is a great addition to the SpaceLab team.

A rising senior in Detroit, Madison says math is her favorite subject, and she is an integral member of her school’s robotics team. Madison joined the team because she wanted to build something. “I wanted (my) creativity to flow on a physical project.” She wasn’t able to participate in robotics when she was in middle school, but was persistent in joining the high school team. She proudly reports that her Renaissance team has participated in state competition and world competitions.

Madison plans to combine her love for robotics and engineering with architecture. Since working at SpaceLab, she’s been introduced to many architects, real estate professionals, and others who’ve given advice and shared experiences that can help her along her career journey. Madison hopes to attend college in California or Florida, and one personal and professional goal is to have a hand in making her parent’s dream come true by designing a new home for them.

Get out of the house to a safe workspace environment

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When you need to get away for a web meeting, conference call or just for a quiet space to get work done, SpaceLab Detroit has your flexible office solutions:

Day Passes $20
Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM

Get a Day Pass

See our safe workspace guidelines: build, create, innovate – safely.

More productivity options:

DeskPass Membership:
12 Day Passes* $200 + Member rates on meeting rooms
*Use one Day Pass per month, all 12 in one month, or any way in between


 Conference Room Rental with cutting-edge tech amenities


Monthly Desk and Private Office Memberships with short-term options

Call (313) 379-7000 or email us for more details. Book a tour.

Newest Coworkers Design and Power City Buildings

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Welcome Bryant Electrical Contractor and Dokes Design & Architecture to SpaceLab Detroit!

Roland Bryant is founder at Bryant Electrical Contractor and leads the company in a variety of project types. Successful projects include those with the City of Detroit – at Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Belle Isle and Cadillac Square – Eastern Market Corp, Detroit Metro Airport, multifamily residential projects, and health facilities, including the USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Dokes Design Architecture is a full-service design firm with a focus on urban building projects. Founder and principal Kimberly Dokes was recently named one of Crain’s Detroit Business’ Notable Women in Design. Damon Dickerson is the company’s Director of Architecture and an adjunct professor at University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture.

Welcome New Members!

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We’re excited about the new members to our community! Where available, please click on the link at their business name to get more info on how they are creating, innovating and building in Detroit and beyond.

Ray Batra
Shift_Up is a “Learning Gym” that blends the best flexible online courses with professional coaching and community to offer effective and affordable solutions to upgrade your skills—virtually, or in-person.

LJ Golden Realty
Ronita Coleman

Detroit Delivers
Karen Thornton

Phillips Spic & Span Cleaning Service
Lethaniel Phillips & Terry Phillips

Blue Horizon Construction
Kalaya Long

iBartend | V&J Management Group
Veronique Fariala
iBartend is a fun an exclusive “Shake and Sip” bartending class perfect for small groups, celebrations, date night and overall liquor knowledge.

A Bridge of Hope Foundation
Bridgette Schuler

A|Squared Legal Group, PLC
Alari K. Adams

Work Space Spark
Dorethia Kelly

Amesite
Madison Bush

Meet more of our SpaceLab community here.

In Response to Current Events

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We are traumatized by the events of the past month. The murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in any circumstance would sadden us. The fact that they were killed by those who had been sworn to protect them and their communities compounds our grief and causes us to again revisit the injustices in the country we live and love.


We are frustrated and tired of the overt, covert and systematic racism that African Americans live with daily. We will use our platform to provide programming to explore ideas that promote positive change and equity in our communities. We must come together to make the places we live, and our entire country, better.

Karen A.D. Burton, Co-founder & CEO
Bobby Burton, Co-founder & COO

Detroit businesses share good news even during COVID-19 crisis

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SpaceLab members are continuing to operate their businesses and serve their clients. Here’s some great news they’ve shared over the past weeks. We hope the good news motivates you to keep moving your business forward.

Member SDG Architects & Planners is architect for the Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole (COW) office renovation in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC) – the first renovation of the area in over 40 years. SDG worked with LLP Construction Services on this Design-Build project. 

photo by LLP Construction Services

Izzie LLC has contracted with the City of Highland Park to disinfect and sanitize the city’s four main buildings: Police Headquarters, Fire Department, Robert B. Blackwell Municipal Building, and the Ernest T. For Recreation Center.

Black Girl MATHgic reached a milestone with founder Brittany A. Rhodes giving her first-ever presentation as a full-time “mathpreneur” at the Mid School Math Conference in Santa Fe, NM, the largest middle school mathematics conference in the nation, in early March.

New members LottMetz Crutcher Architecture – a partnership of Grand Rapids-based Lott3Metz Architecture LLC and metro Detroit’s Crutcher Studio, Inc. – came together to propose larger developments in Southeast Michigan and plan to “positively contribute to Detroit’s urban revolution.” Read more on MiBiz >>>

Karen Burton, along with Saundra Little, AIA, spent time with Melissa R. Daniel on her podcast Architecture is Political. The conversation focused on architecture, their Noir Design Parti project, Detroit and entrepreneurship. Listen here >>>

Limited Access at SpaceLab during COVID-19 health crisis includes Mail Processing

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SpaceLab logo

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (MI) issued a Stay Home, Stay Safe order for all non-essential businesses that took effect, Tuesday, March 24 at 12:01 a.m. It will be in place for at least three (3) weeks in response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

SpaceLab is currently closed for most business activity. However, as a postal agent, we will continue to process mail from the downtown location. We ask all Virtual/Mail customers to schedule mail pickup between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 313-379-7000 or email info@spacelabdetroit.com to schedule.

As always, Members with a keycard or keyfob still have access at both downtown and Seven Mile Road locations should you need to retrieve something. Use your best judgement when entering the space, as regular daily cleaning activity has ceased. Cleaning products and hand sanitizer are still in the space for your use.

There should not be any meetings or gatherings taking place at the downtown or Seven Mile locations.

Additionally, Day Passes have been suspended at both locations until further notice.

As current events and messaging about COVID-19 evolve, we continue to monitor and implement recommendations by government and health officials. We understand how difficult this time is as you continue to operate your business. Please email Bobby or me if you need assistance in any way, and we will do our best to help. See our Support Resources and Events pages for more information.

Karen A.D. Burton

Co-founder and CEO

SpaceLab Detroit

SpaceLab Wants to Connect Online

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We want to keep the business and urban innovator community connected and supported, even though we’re physically distant. Many of you had workshops, presentations, exhibits or other events scheduled that had to be canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak. Anyone interested in meeting online by webconference for 30 minutes with our CEO Karen Burton to share your event, email us your name, phone number and presentation details (an Eventbrite link would work, too), and we’ll work to get you scheduled. Preference will be given to those sharing information on start-ups, business planning, design, construction and development, art and culture, and smart ideas to make our cities better.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash