AMDG Architects, Inc. is a full-service design firm based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, founded in 1992 by Calvin Jen with a vision to glorify God through serving, leading, and guiding others. The firm’s philosophy is rooted in the Latin phrase “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” meaning “To the greater glory of God,” emphasizing a commitment to understanding, serving, and advancing clients’ missions by shaping their environments. AMDG’s approach to design is centered around fostering personal relationships, maintaining high ethical standards, and delivering excellent design solutions across various sectors including residential, education, healthcare, office, sports, and fitness.
Throughout its history, AMDG Architects has evolved its business model to embrace new technologies and tools, leading to innovative design processes and collaborative teamwork. The firm’s leadership, including partners Calvin Jen and Peter Baldwin, has prioritized a strengths-based approach, combining team members’ talents and passions for more effective outcomes. By adopting a “pod” style of teaming and forming smaller teams based on individual strengths and experiences, AMDG has enhanced client collaboration and internal synergy, resulting in successful projects across multiple states.
As AMDG Architects continues to grow, it remains dedicated to putting client needs first and upholding its core values of integrity, excellence, and service. With a team of over two dozen employees and three distinct studios, the firm’s commitment to honoring its founding belief that design should serve more than the designer is evident in every project undertaken. By staying true to its mission of glorifying God through design, AMDG Architects has established itself as a testament to the power of purpose-driven architecture and client-focused service.