James Marusich, Registered Architect

Northern Lights Architecture, PLLC

With over 25 years in a broad range of collective experience and diverse knowledge in multiple related development, design, and planning fields, James Marusich decided to launch Northern Lights Architecture in October of 2022, which is currently based in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

James possesses a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Detroit and has held Architect licensure in the State of Michigan for over 25 years.

Prior to forming Northern Lights Architecture, James had been dedicated to the ongoing revitalization of the City of Detroit for over three decades. James, as former Head of the Real Estate Development Division and Major Projects Coordinator for the city's Planning and Development Department has played a key role in overseeing the positive transitions of numerous blighted and stressed neighborhoods along with saving, and overseeing the stabilization & redevelopment of many historical buildings from demolition, along with marketing to development entities.

In his service to Detroit, James was the lead in the revitalization of quite a few major urban renewal project areas in Detroit. James's signature project accomplishments are the Brush Park historical housing district and Eastern Market commercial district which are both now flourishing as a direct result of James's tireless efforts. James purchased a home on the Superior lakefront in 2019 just six miles outside of Calumet, and is now dedicated to the ongoing revitalization of the Western Upper Peninsula region.

In the news:

Read more about our preliminary design presentation for the Chassell Mercantile Project. In the Keweenaw Daily Mining Gazette

Check out our quote in the announcement of the Brush Park Redevelopment Project in Detroit.

Read our quote in Deadline Detroit regarding Brush Park

Read about the Keweenaw Brewery Expansion prior to construction in the Mining Gazette

"Brush Park and Hope" Metro Times-Detroit

TV 6 (Marquette, Michigan) segment on Keweenaw Brewery deck pouring during August of 2023

Collaborative Partnership

Marusich Architecture, PLLC

John Marusich, RA - Principal

Marusich Architecture is a full-service Architectural firm with a history of over thirty years (1990-present) of dedication and service in providing quality architecture to the City of Detroit/Metro Detroit and throughout the State of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

John was the Senior Principal, Director of Design, and the Architect of record for the former Archi Civitas Architects in downtown Detroit (1993- 2004). John also has many years of project experience with multiple established firms in the Detroit metropolitan area.

John’s overall project experience ranges from custom single-family homes, low and midrise multifamily, retail, hospitality, corporate, medical offices, charter schools, historic restoration, adaptive re-use utilizing traditional and new construction formats. John also has over 13 years of university level teaching experience at five different college institutions as adjunct professor, as well as 2 years at Wayne State University as full time Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Interior Architecture Programing the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts.

Marusich Architecture is commitment to innovative solutions to contemporary design as well as historical and urban adaptive reuse contextual projects. The firm is comprised of creative design individuals with multi-talented technical expertise. We enjoy our reputation for design excellence with construction practicality and budget competence. We are sensitive to individual client character and needs. We often provide solutions that exceed our client’s expectations for the project. This attitude benefits us with high client return and referrals.

Marusich Architecture was located over a decade (1997 – 2011) in downtown Detroit, occupying the entire 32nd Floor of the historic David Stott Tower. This provided a unique opportunity to look out and point to many of our projects below in the Detroit Central Business District. Marusich Architecture now located (2012 – present) on Woodward Avenue in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. with a staff of ten (10):

MARUSICH ARCHITECTURE STAFF

Magdi Samwell – Senior Project Manager / Architect

Cairo University – Giza Egypt – Bachelor of Architecture 1977

Said Arbid – Project Manager / Architect

Lawrence Technological University Bachelor of Architecture 1996

Redouane Ourlissenne – Project Director / Graduate Architect

University of Mammeri – Algeria B.S. in Architecture 2009

Oakland Community College A.S. in Architecture Tech 2015

University of Detroit Mercy Master of Architecture 2019

David Clark III – Senior Design Associate / Computer Imagery

Delta College – Midland MI A.S. in Architecture Tech 2015

University of Detroit Mercy B.S. in Architecture 2019

Moises Reyes – Auto Cad Technician / Graduate Architect

University of Detroit Mercy B.S. in Architecture 2020

University of Detroit Mercy Master of Architecture 2023

Maximillian Flaga – Auto Cad Technician/ Graduate Architect

Lansing Community College A.S. in Architecture Tech 2015

University of Detroit Mercy Master of Architecture 2022

Jason Holmes – Auto Cad Technician / Graduate Architect

University of Detroit Mercy Master of Architecture 2023

Kathy Coleman – Interior Designer

Wayne State University BFA Interior Design 1985

Gar Hoplamazian – Director of Construction Administration

University of Michigan M.S. Mechanical Engineering 1974

University of Michigan M.S. Civil Engineering 1975

Gloria Gorko – Office Administrator

South Macomb Community College – Fine Arts

Oakland Community College – A.A.

South Macomb Community College – A.S. IT Applications