At SpaceLab Detroit, our community is made up of innovators, designers, builders, and changemakers who are shaping the future of our cities and industries. Each month, we shine a light on one of our outstanding members — sharing their journey, their passions, and the impact they are making in their fields and communities.
Through these stories, we celebrate the creativity, collaboration, and commitment that make SpaceLab more than just a workspace — it’s a launchpad for big ideas and lasting connections. This month, we’re proud to feature Emmanuel Jones, founder and owner of Jones Cleaning Group .
by Mari Byrd
Emmanuel Jones, founder and CEO of Jones Cleaning Group and member of SpaceLab, recently sat down with Mari Byrd, SpaceLab’s co-community manager, for an interview.
Emmanuel shared how his journey in the cleaning industry began when he worked as a custodian at a local school while in college. Over time, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, initially hiring family, friends, and a small team. Today, Jones Cleaning employs over 20 part-time staff members, including disabled veterans and returning citizens.
Emmanuel Jones
The company frequently receives referrals from both employment agencies and team members.
Emmanuel attributes much of his business growth to word-of-mouth recommendations, networking events, client referrals, and public bidding opportunities. When asked about his ideal contract, he described a manufacturer’s warehouse operating five days a week in a 9-10 story, 30,000 square-foot building, providing about 30 hours of work per week for his team.
Some of the company’s most notable projects have included providing services to the Big House at the University of Michigan, Chrysler Arena, and one of their proudest achievements was assisting with the NFL Draft in 2024 in Detroit. For that event, they hired 82 people over three weeks to handle cleaning before and after the event.
Jones Cleaning Group offers a wide range of services, including carpet cleaning, post-construction/renovation cleaning, window cleaning, tile and grout care, trash removal, debris haul-out, floor stripping and waxing, and more. Emmanuel emphasizes that no job is too big or too small for his team.
Emmanuel is committed to ensuring that all staff are well-trained, held accountable for their tasks, and work in a safe environment. A manager is typically on-site to ensure all tasks are completed according to client specifications. Jones Cleaning Group takes great pride in maintaining high standards of cleanliness, and they prioritize delivering quality service. Jones Cleaning Group is ready to accommodate quick requests, often completing jobs within three days to one week’s notice.
At SpaceLab Detroit, our community is made up of innovators, designers, builders, and changemakers who are shaping the future of our cities and industries. Each month, we shine a light on one of our outstanding members — sharing their journey, their passions, and the impact they are making in their fields and communities.
Through these stories, we celebrate the creativity, collaboration, and commitment that make SpaceLab more than just a workspace — it’s a launchpad for big ideas and lasting connections. This month, we’re proud to feature Kenneth Crutcher, licensed architect and partner in L3MC architecture firm.
by Mari Byrd
Kenneth Crutcher RA, AIA, NCARB, Partner at L3MC, recently sat down with SpaceLab’s Mari Byrd. During their conversation, Kenneth reflected on how his journey in architecture led to a collaboration with Ted Lott and Greg Metz, culminating in the creation of “Lott3Metz Crutcher Architecture.” Although the merger occurred just one week before the pandemic began, L3MC remained steadfast in their belief that this partnership would shape a remarkable future for urban architecture.
Kenneth emphasized that the partnership with L3MC would allow them to bring even greater creativity and insights to projects in Detroit and Grand Rapids, thanks to their shared design philosophy.
L3MC is renowned for their strong connection to the community. Their passion for urban architecture is fueled by listening to the needs and desires of local residents, ensuring their designs reflect the essence of what matters most to both the community and their clients. L3MC has successfully completed a variety of projects in Grand Rapids, including mixed-use spaces, restaurants, renovations, a hospital, a courthouse, new constructions, and residential developments. Now, they’re excited to combine their talents and expand their designs to Detroit.
“I love a good challenge! I just like solving a problem” – Kenneth Crutcher, AIA, NCARB
Some of the firm’s notable completed projects in Detroit include Shears and Shaves Salon, Lola’s restaurant, Chili Mustard Onion vegan coney island, multi-family developments, and more.
Their past work in Grand Rapids includes major projects like the Meijer Corporate Headquarters, Fulton Street Farmers Market, Spectrum Health Sparta, and Lake Michigan Credit Union. More recently, they’ve worked on a new school in Southfield, the African American Cultural History Museum of Washtenaw County, and a demonstration kitchen to teach healthy cooking.
So, what sets L3MC apart from other architectural firms? According to Kenneth, their deep-rooted passion for the evolution of the city makes them stand out. They care more about the projects they take on because they are part of the community where they build. Unlike firms headquartered elsewhere, L3MC takes the time to engage with the community, learning its history and ensuring that the urban fabric remains intact. This commitment often leads them to make preservation a priority, considering demolition only as a last resort.
On Wednesday, June 17, 2020, the SpaceLab Innovation Center, powered by SpaceLab Detroit, hosted a timely webinar to discuss the role of architecture and urban planning in creating safe, healthy living environments: Toward More Equitable Living Environments: African Americans, Architecture and Planning in the Time of COVID-19. View the video replay of the discussion by clicking the link above. Show notes are below the panelists’ bios.
Cities with majority Black populations like Detroit, Baltimore and New Orleans have been greatly impacted by COVID-19. At the end of April, Data Driven Detroit estimated that about one quarter of COVID-19 cases in Michigan were in Detroit despite the city being only 6.7% of the state’s population. APM Research Lab in St. Paul, Minnesota reports that nationwide, African Americans are dying from the virus at three times the rate of white Americans.
Discussion topics included the value placed on Black communities, causes for the disparity in cases of the virus and death rates, ideas for changes to city infrastructure design during and after this pandemic, and how design professionals can adapt to changing environments.
Our Panelists
Kimberly Dowdell, a licensed architect and urban thought leader who is focused on building resilient, healthy and sustainable cities. A native of Detroit, Kimberly’s passion for design as a catalyst for urban revitalization was inspired by childhood experiences in her hometown. She went on to live in Ithaca, Rome, Washington, New York and Boston prior to returning to Detroit in 2015, where she worked on neighborhood-scale reinvestment efforts until her relocation to Chicago in 2019. Kimberly’s professional mission is to improve the quality of life for people living in cities. She believes in building diverse, cross-sector teams to solve our society’s most complicated challenges with a lens towards justice and equity. She is the 2019-2020 National President of National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and a Principal in the Chicago studio of HOK, a global architecture and planning firm.
Andre Perry, PhD, a fellow at Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC., and author of Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities. Dr. Perry’s research focuses on race and structural inequality, community engagement, education, economic inclusion, and workforce development. He is a frequent contributor to news programming on NBC, National Public Radio, TheGriot.com, CNN, and other national media outlets. (@andreperryedu on Twitter and Instagram and aperry@brookings.edu)
Donald Rencher, Director of Housing and Revitalization with the City of Detroit. Since 2015, he has served the City in multiple roles, including working on mixed income, mixed use development projects and financial underwriting. Prior to working at the City of Detroit, Donald was senior lead counsel to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority where he worked on large-scale, affordable housing development and served over its single-family housing portfolio.
Moderated by: Michael Randall, urban planner and Director of Community Impact at the American Heart Association Detroit. He has devoted his career and life to the development of communities around the country and the world. His expertise includes, but is not limited to, public health, urban planning, housing, community enrichment and financial capabilities. Michael has served on both public and nonprofit boards including the Ypsilanti Planning Commission, the Ypsilanti Library Board of Trustees and Legal Services of South Central Michigan. His entrepreneurial endeavors include co-owning and operating the community enrichment organization, Maureen James Community Enrichment.
Community Partners
Thanks to our Community Partners for this event: City of Detroit Department of Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity; Real Estate Association of Developers (READ); Detroit chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMAD); Design Core Detroit; Noir Design Parti; Detroit chapter of The American Institute of Architects; Urban Land Institute Michigan; and Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative.
page header photo credit: Mike Birdy
Purchase Know Your Price at Source Booksellers, a Detroit Small Business
Questions: Q&A (49:45 – 55:21): We see diversity in public spaces that have an attraction appeal. i.e..Millenium Park. How do we design parks inclusively so that level of diversity is co-existing in neighborhoods? Is this an opportunity for black/LatinX architects to enable this kind of participation? (via Michael R.)
Q&A (56:04): What will it take to provide more section 8 support for Detroit housing? will additional section 8 support encourage developers to invest in Detroit? (via Marla M.)
Q (57:04 – 1:00:42): At what point do we fund our projects with our money from our banks (Credit Unions as well)? One United Bank for example. (via Kendal B.)
Q&A (1:04:04 – 1:05:00): How do you recommend that we tackle explaining these histories and systemic racial practices within our universities architectural history classes? And make sure these community histories of disenfranchisement are kept in mind by designers even at the early stages of their education? (via Ramatoulie S.)
Q&A (1:05:45: 1:06:36): Are the panelists engaged in any real estate development or affordable housing projects? (via Vic B.)
Cost of homeownership (including insurance and utilities)
Practical money skills education
Organizations: NOMA: National Organization of Minority Architects (via Kimberly D.)
Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD) Community Engagement policy committee is drafting legislation to improve Community Engagement. Too often the engagement process is wanting. If you’re interested in this process please feel free to contact Ruth Johnson of CDAD or take action here. (via Orletta C.)
Habitat for Humanity affiliates are certified credit counselors and assist people with credit repair. (via Elizabeth W.)
Education: Home Builders Association of Southeast Michigan (HBA) has scholarships for students heading to or already enrolled in any aspect of construction education. Deadline extended into July. (via Elizabeth W.)
Noir Design Parti: Important work and history of minority architects in Detroit is the focus of this Knight Arts Challenge award-winning project. Find out more about our work and support our mission! (via Saundra L.)
Got discussion ideas? Email us at info@spacelabdetroit.com
