Bio:
The great designer, Kimberly Dowdell has designed or managed over $100 million in assets throughout her career with architectural firms in Washington, D.C. and New York, coupled with her real estate experience in New York and Detroit. Kimberly is a native of Detroit and a lecturer at the University of Michigan. She is the 2019-2020 NOMA National President. Kimberly earned a B’Arch at Cornell University and a MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. Kimberly became a Partner of Detroit-based Century Partners in 2017

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I learned about architecture during an art class in middle school. As a kid witnessing my city crumbling around me, I became determined to use architecture as way to help rebuild Detroit. I thought that I needed to fix the buildings to fix the city.

What do you do?
I’m a Partner with Century Partners, which runs a constellation of entities focused on neighborhood revitalization. We operate a real estate private equity fund and have a property management, construction and brokerage arm, as well as a non-profit.

What excites you in the work you do?
I’m most excited by seeing blighted properties transform into vibrant places that will contribute to the revitalization of their neighborhoods/city. I also love welcoming new members to NOMA as the organization targets major growth in 2019 and 2020.

Who or what inspires you professionally?
I’m inspired by the men and women who have dedicated themselves to urban revitalization. It is very challenging work and everyone engaged from the city government team to the developers, architects, contractors and brokers all play an important role.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
I am honored to serve as the 2019-2020 NOMA National President while also working to revitalize my hometown, Detroit, as a Partner with Century Partners. I was also very proud to be selected as a Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under 40 Honoree in 2018.

Featured Project Name: 
Fitz Forward
 
Featured Project Location: 
Detroit, Michigan
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
In Progress

Role in Featured Project: 
Developer
 
Featured Project Description:
The Fitz Forward project represents a transformative approach to neighborhood stabilization. The objective is to revitalize more than 300 parcels across a quarter square-mile area within Detroit’s Fitzgerald neighborhood. Fitz Forward is a joint venture between Detroit-based development firms Century Partners and The Platform. A public-private partnership, the Fitz Forward team and the City of Detroit will leverage ~$14MM of public and private investment to instigate catalytic neighborhood development.

Photography Credit:
Century Partners