Do I need a licensed architect for my project in Indiana?

For commercial, multifamily, and most change-of-use projects, yes. Indiana requires a licensed architect to stamp the drawings. For a single-family home it is not required, but it saves money on bids and changes.

What kinds of projects does Make Room take?

Multifamily and mixed-use development, commercial buildings, hotels and hospitality, adaptive reuse and historic renovation, and a small number of specialty residential projects. Recent work includes 300 East LaSalle, a 10-story mixed-use building with 144 apartments in South Bend.

Where does Make Room Architecture work?

South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Kokomo, Warsaw, and across Indiana and Southwest Michigan. The office is in the Commerce Center in downtown South Bend.

How does a project with Make Room start?

Every project starts with 10 hours of our time for $1,000. We look at the site, the program, the budget, and what the city will allow, and both sides find out if it is a fit. After that, you get a clear fee for the full project before any drawings.

Can Make Room help before I buy the land?

Yes. We test what fits on a site, how many units it holds, where parking and access go, and what zoning allows, before you commit.

Does Make Room handle zoning, PUD approvals, and permits?

Yes. We take projects through planning, zoning, PUD approvals, and change-of-use in South Bend, St. Joseph County, and nearby towns.

How long does design take before permits?

A renovation or tenant build-out takes a few weeks. A new multifamily or commercial building takes several months, depending on approvals.

What makes Make Room Architecture different?

We have built and operated our own projects. We know what a building costs and how it performs before we draw it, and we know the local contractors, lenders, and appraisers.

Expertise

We design buildings for people who have to make them pencil. Developers, owners, and operators. Five kinds of work, one way of thinking about cost.

Multifamily and Mixed-Use Development

Apartments, townhomes, and buildings with retail or office below. We plan the site, test the unit count, and design the building to fit the pro forma. 300 East LaSalle, River Race Townhomes, The Hub District, Faris Park, Warsaw Townhomes, and North Liberty Mews are all ours.

Commercial Architecture

Office, retail, medical, and industrial buildings. New construction and tenant build-outs. Drawings that get permits and bids that come in close.

Hospitality and Hotel Design

Hotels and the spaces around them. We design to the brand standard and to the operator's numbers.

Adaptive Reuse and Historic Renovation

Old buildings with new uses. We handle change of use, code analysis, and the approvals that come with an existing structure, and we have done it for buildings we own.

Specialty Residential

A small number of custom homes and residential additions each year, for clients who want an architect on the project.

How we start

Every project starts the same way: 10 hours of our time for $1,000. We look at the site, the program, the budget, and what the city will allow. Then we both know if we are a fit. After that, you get a clear fee for the full project before any drawings.

Call 574-400-5408 or email info@mroomsb.com to book the first ten hours.

Questions about permits, zoning, cost, or timing? See our FAQ.