Perhaps only Albert Kahn has left more of a mark on Detroit's skyline than Rainy Hamilton Jr.

Hamilton, a graduate of Cass Tech High School and the University of Detroit Mercy, worked for the legendary Detroit firm Smith, Hinchman & Grylls (today known as SmithGroup) before founding his own firm with Kent Anderson in 1993.

The award-winning firm has handled a number of adaptive reuse projects, not just in Detroit but around the country. It has grown into a team of more than 500 design professionals and achieved sales of nearly $300 million, making it one of the largest and most successful Black-owned architecture firms in the country.

In Detroit, the firm has worked on everything from Chene Park to the Grayhaven Marina Village, to a master plan for Belle Isle Park to The Children's Center and Detroit Public Schools system to Little Caesars Arena, the redevelopment of the Hudson’s site and the Motown Museum expansion.

“To be able to rebuild Detroit one home, one block, one neighborhood at a time is exactly why Hamilton Anderson is here and exactly why we’re headquartered here,” Hamilton told Hour Detroit magazine for its January 2022 edition.