Dokes Design Architecture
Dokes Design Architecture is a Black-Owned and Woman-Owned Architecture and Interior Design firm based in Detroit. We design equitable, creative spaces that bring people together — to design the overlooked possibilities.
Collaboration & Community
Mentorship & the Next Generation
Design For Community
At Dokes Design Architecture, we're redefining architecture and interior design through community collaboration. Our co-creation process engages stakeholders at every stage, so the spaces we design in Detroit and beyond truly reflect the needs, values, and aspirations of the people who use them. Choose DDA and you don't just get a design firm — you gain a partner committed to building environments that inspire, connect, and endure.
Our firm is founded on core values that put others ahead of ourselves. We bring a holistic, human-centered approach to professional design — transforming lives, and neighborhoods, with integrity and care.
"Architecture is more than designing buildings — it is about understanding the people, missions, and communities behind every project."
— Kimberly Dokes, Founder & Principal
Featured Projects
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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM)
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) has established its newest club location within the newly restored Michigan Central Train Station. This transformative project encompasses the interior build-out of approximately 10,000 square feet of dedicated youth skills training and development space.
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Motown Historic Museum Annex Facility
The Motown Annex Building project involved the comprehensive renovation of a 38,391-square-foot existing facility in Detroit, Michigan. The program includes temperature-controlled storage areas, administrative offices, retail space, and a youth-focused music education program.
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The Beauton
Dokes Design Architecture unveils The Beauton, a groundbreaking $7.3 million mixed-use development in Detroit's North End. This visionary project offers 29 affordable housing units, blending modern design with community-focused living. From micro-studios to two-bedroom apartments, The Beauton caters to diverse housing needs while revitalizing the neighborhood.
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Higginbotham: Adaptive Reuse Architecture
One of only a few Mediterranean Revival-style structures built for the Detroit Board of Education Built in 1926-27. Higginbotham School was designed for kindergarten through eighth-grade classes, and was constructed to serve the African American residents of the segregated neighborhood. -
7400 West McNichols
In the heart of Detroit's Fitzgerald/Marygrove neighborhood, a remarkable urban renewal project is taking shape. The redevelopment of 7400 W McNichols is set to breathe new life into the McNichols business thoroughfare, transforming four existing storefronts into a vibrant 7,000-square-foot haven for dining and retail experiences.
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Barber Preparatory Academy Library Renovation
Dokes Design breathes new life into Barber Preparatory Academy's 1920s library in Highland Park, MI. Our team, serving as both architects and interior designers, collaborated with school staff to create an budget friendly inspiring K-8 learning space.