Hidden Gems: Meet Paulina Reyes of Prospect-Works Architecture & Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paulina Reyes.

Hi Paulina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a licensed architect by trade. I’ve been practicing for over 10 years and in that time, my work has spanned design, research, travel, teaching and community engagement. In my twenties, I moved around quite a bit, and had the opportunity to work in California, Mexico, Pittsburgh, and finally Detroit.

I founded my architecture practice Prospect-Works in 2023 as an umbrella for my passions in design and as a way to focus on projects in my own “backyard” – Detroit.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a business certainly forced me up a steep learning curve. Suddenly, you wear all of the hats – architect, project manager, accountant, business developer – and that has been a definite challenge, but also a vital learning opportunity. Practicing architecture not just as a designer, but as a business owner has given me a broader perspective of the building process and a greater ability to work laterally across design, development, and construction.

Finding clients while managing a consistent workflow has also been a challenge, especially as a younger business. Fortunately, I pair my independent projects with part-time consulting with the Sustainability Institute of Detroit.

We’ve been impressed with Prospect-Works Architecture & Design, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Prospect-Works is an architecture practice based in Detroit, with a focus on local projects that create social impact. The practice is built on an ecosystem of values that are currently underserved in the architecture market: affordable services for communities and small businesses with limited budgets, expertise in building sustainability, and pathways for young people in the design field.

This isn’t simply to fulfill empty platitudes of ‘doing good’, but to support structural, long-term positive change in the industry and the community – change from which we all benefit. We affect change through a toolset of design-thinking, advocacy, education, not to mention beautiful, sustainable, and functional spaces that challenge the status quo.

Our work spans a residential, small-scale interiors and commercial fit-outs, education and community-oriented projects, as well as design services to help support specific community needs like temporary structures and installation.

We also seek out opportunities to partner with local schools, education programs and pipeline initiatives as a way of engaging young people and students interested in architecture or design as a potential career pathway.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
It depends on who you talk to! I was an artistic, introspective, and sometimes rebellious young person. I possessed an interest in just about anything creative – dance, acting, art, music – and I would often get lost in my own thoughts, prompting an early reputation for being forgetful or as my Spanish teacher would say – “¡Estás en la luna!”

I’ve always had a love for nature and a concurrent anxiety about the state of the environment. I was moved by documentaries like “An Inconvenient Truth” and successfully lobbied my parents to become early adopters of the hybrid car, a 2008 Honda Civic, which I still drive today!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://prospect-works.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prospect-works/