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.

Projects

300 East LaSalle

Mixed-use · South Bend, Indiana · 10 stories · 144 apartments · Owner's representative and interior design

300 East LaSalle, a 10-story mixed-use building on South Bend's East Bank, Make Room Architecture

A precast and post-tension concrete building on the St. Joseph River with ground-floor retail, fourth-floor offices, and parking from the basement to the fourth level. Make Room served as owner's representative through construction and designed the apartment interiors and common spaces.

300 East LaSalle apartment interior, kitchen and living room

River Race Townhomes

Multifamily · South Bend, Indiana · 10 townhomes · Architectural design and project management

River Race Townhomes on the St. Joseph River, South Bend, Make Room Architecture

Ten two- and three-story townhomes in the East Bank neighborhood, designed to fit the street and hold a riverfront presence. Make Room provided the architectural design, managed parts of the development, and worked with each owner on interior selections.

River Race Townhome kitchen

The Hub District

Multifamily · Kokomo, Indiana · Townhomes · Architectural design

The Hub District townhomes in Kokomo, Indiana, Make Room Architecture

A row of townhomes designed for a walkable district in Kokomo.

Faris Park

Multifamily master plan · Kokomo, Indiana · Apartments, clubhouse, and park · In development

Faris Park master plan aerial, Kokomo, Indiana

Apartments, a clubhouse, and a public park planned as one site and built in phases.

Faris Park apartment building rendering

Warsaw Townhomes

Multifamily · Warsaw, Indiana · 3 townhomes · Architectural design

Warsaw Townhomes, brick townhomes with white columns near downtown Warsaw, Indiana

Three townhomes near downtown Warsaw. One cohesive design, with different window styles and mortar colors so each home reads as its own.

North Liberty Mews

Multifamily · North Liberty, Indiana · 4 townhomes · Design-build · Completed 2025

Four new townhomes on West Wabash Avenue, designed and built by one team.

A Residence

Specialty residential · Addition and kitchen · Architectural and interior design

Kitchen addition with Italian granite, Make Room Architecture

An addition that opens the kitchen into a room for entertaining. Clean lines, modern finishes, and granite from Italy.