Chad Rochkind has an interest in big cities, how they work, and what can be done to improve them. It's what motivated the Detroiter to launch his own company.
Human Scale Studio works with businesses, nonprofits, local governments, and community groups, providing consulting services that help them make community plans and conduct research. The common denominator is all of this work makes big cities better places to live.
"My passion is cities and making cities more livable for people," Rochkind says.
The 1-year-old company has worked with a variety of Detroit organizations, including the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the
Corktown Business Association. One of its projects included putting a temporary parklet in front of
Astro Coffee in Corktown. The idea was to put the excessive width of Michigan Avenue into a human context.
Human Scale Studio is looking to expand its clientele across a variety of sectors. The idea is that spreading its work around will mean a greater impact on raising the quality of life in Detroit.
"I'd like to take on another government entity, like the city of Detroit," Rochkind says. "I think I have a lot to add."
Source: Chad Rochkind, founder & CEO of Human Scale Studio
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.