WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI, September 17, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Arthur E. Kalajian has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process. Mr. Kalajian also received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Kalajian, owner and lead designer at Kalajian Architecture, has established a distinguished career spanning over 50 years in the architectural profession. Since 1983, he has led his firm, maintaining its reputation as a sought-after practice for aspiring architects even while changing branding and transitioning the corporation into an LLC. With a small team of employees and long-standing collaborations with independent consultants in electrical and mechanical engineering, he continues to drive the creative vision of his projects while adapting to technological advancements, such as computer-aided design.

Throughout his career, Mr. Kalajian has demonstrated expertise across a diverse range of architectural disciplines. He is particularly recognized for his innovative work with churches, mosques, Muslim cultural centers and mainline religious institutions, including Catholic, Lutheran, Pentecostal and Baptist congregations. His portfolio also encompasses salons, industrial buildings, unique homes and multimillion-dollar residences. Notably, he pioneered the integration of amphitheater concepts into church architecture over 50 years ago, enhancing both functionality and community engagement.

A hallmark of Mr. Kalajian's professional journey is his development of a distinctive formula for church layouts. Recognizing the challenges posed by traditional designs with fragmented spaces, he introduced a central axis concept that serves as a gathering space from which congregants can easily access different areas — such as sanctuaries or school wings — streamlining movement and fostering inclusivity. His designs often feature cruciform structures with glass elements and atriums that connect to educational facilities and innovative pyramidal layouts adaptable to various scales.

In addition to his ecclesiastical projects, Mr. Kalajian has remained at the forefront of commercial design innovation. He is currently developing a commercial rental property characterized by eclectic architectural styles and vibrant colors, designed to evoke the feel of a village composed of eight distinct retail centers. His ongoing experimentation includes transforming gas stations into dynamic spaces that reflect movement and artistic expression — a vision now being realized within Detroit's Chaldean community.

Prior to establishing his Michigan-based firm in 1983, Mr. Kalajian practiced architecture in Massachusetts, where he gained foundational experience that informed his later successes. Early in his career, he entered high-profile competitions, like the Roosevelt Island project — where his avant-garde designs were noted for their experimental nature — and secured significant commissions, including a $25 million megachurch project designed for 6,000 congregants in 1982. Although only partially completed due to external factors, this project solidified his reputation as a leading church architect in the region.

Mr. Kalajian's professional affiliations include 35 years of membership with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and a decade with the AESA-Michigan Section (Armenian Engineers Society of Michigan). His contributions have been recognized with various honors, such as winning a major commission in 1982 for a major church project mentioned above (Zion Evangelistic Temple) in Troy, MI, for a 350,000 square foot church complex which helped propel his career, and recently second place in the Religious Building of the Year Award by a major pre-engineered building company in 2024, and an award-winning design for the Bethesda Romanian Pentecostal Church in Troy, MI.

Educationally, Mr. Kalajian's foundation was laid at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he earned a bachelor's degree in architecture. Influenced by early experiences overcoming language barriers through drawing alongside his identical twin brother — who also pursued industrial design — Mr. Kalajian's artistic abilities were nurtured by supportive educators who encouraged him toward architecture after he won first place in a high school competition to design Belmont's new town hall in Massachusetts. Under the architectural school's legacy under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe further shaped his approach to integrating art and science within architectural practice.

In his personal life, Mr. Kalajian is civically engaged as a supporter of two Churches with Tithes and offerings and the Tupelo Children's Mansion, a residential care facility for children facing challenging circumstances over the past 40 years. He is also dedicated to both his family life and personal growth. He prioritizes spending time with his three children and painting with his daughter, a fine artist whom he assists with perspective drawings. In his free time, he enjoys spending time at the ocean, swimming and valuing creative pursuits outside of work.

An accomplished artist and architect, Mr. Kalajian is developing an innovative painting technique intended for display within church settings. This concept will capture transformative moments and stories, such as Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, by blending multiple time lapses into a single mural-like image that invites prolonged contemplation.

Motivated by legacies of longevity within his field, including competing against architects who worked well past age 100, Mr. Kalajian remains committed to practicing architecture for as long as possible. Encouraged by younger colleagues and inspired by new challenges within Detroit's diverse communities, he continues to explore unconventional ideas that merge art with architecture while striving to leave a lasting impact on both sacred and secular spaces alike.

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