Welcome. I’m Kevin.

I help people fall in love with buildings.

I am an architecture historian, speaker, and tour leader who makes architecture come alive—whether we are standing on a sidewalk in Detroit or in a lecture hall across the country.

I specialize in American modernism, the Saarinen family, Frank Lloyd Wright, and the architectural ambition of Detroit. But more than anything, I specialize in people: in connecting audiences with the fascinating stories, aesthetic triumphs, and charming quirks that keep me entranced with architecture.

I have spent my career interpreting architecture for public audiences—curating historic sites, teaching with passion, and leading tours to help people see the world around them with new eyes.

I'm Kevin Adkisson—architecture historian, curator, and guide—dedicated to helping people see the built environment with fresh eyes. Whether through walking tours, community presentations, or keynote lectures across the country, I strive to make architecture accessible, engaging, and entertaining.

Raised in Marietta, Georgia, I was introduced to architecture through the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Eero Saarinen. I studied Architecture at Yale, where I worked in the Yale University Art Gallery’s American Decorative Arts Furniture Study and lived in Eero Saarinen’s Morse College. I also received an MA from the University of Delaware’s Winterthur Program in American Material Culture, focusing my thesis on the role of postmodernism in shopping mall architecture.

Currently, I serve as the Curator for Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Since joining Cranbrook in 2016, I've welcomed thousands of guests, both in person and virtually, to our National Historic Landmark campus. Now I’m taking my passion for design and my skill at bringing architecture to life to the wider world!

Previously, I worked for Robert A.M. Stern Architects in New York as a research and writing associate, and at Kent Bloomer Studio in New Haven, Connecticut designing and fabricating architectural ornament.

Whether you're here to book a tour, hire me to speak, or just learn more about architecture, welcome. I look forward to connecting with you and exploring the stories our built environment has to tell with my friendly, humorous nature, and deep passion for art and architecture.

Detroit Architecture Tours

Custom, high-quality experiences for curious minds.

I offer private, custom-designed tours of Detroit and Southeast Michigan’s remarkable architecture. These are not scripted, off-the-shelf experiences. Each tour is designed for you or your group—built around your interests, background, and questions. Tours are rooted in a years of researching and teaching architecture, and my overgrown library of architecture books!

Whether you are fascinated by skyscrapers, factories, the Arts & Crafts movement, Frank Lloyd Wright, midcentury design, the Saarinen family, or Detroit’s ongoing reinvention, I will shape a tour that delivers meaningful insights and thought provoking beauty.

What You Get

  • A completely customized tour based on your focus areas

  • Personal research and recommendations—from books and gifts to other architectural sites you might explore on your own

  • Engaging, expert-led storytelling on architecture, design, and Detroit’s history

  • Time for questions, conversation, and reflection

Where We Can Explore

  • Downtown Detroit, including the riverfront, skyscrapers, parks, and People Mover

  • Neighborhoods or suburbs of your choosing, with experience in the Grosse Pointes, Oakland County, and Ann Arbor

  • My favorite places! I’ve travelled the country finding great joy in strange and wonderful places. Let me share my city’s greatest spots

Touring Other Sites

Detroit is amazing, and we have so many museums to see. I am happy to complement a visit to the Henry Ford, Detroit Institute of Arts, Pewabic Pottery, or another museum.

I do not provide tours of Cranbrook outside of my role as Curator of Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research. You may see Cranbrook’s tour schedule at center.cranbrook.edu or inquire about a private tour by emailing center@cranbrook.edu.

Who It’s For

  • Individuals and travel buddies

  • Families (13+, or younger with interest in architecture)

  • Middle and High Schools

  • Colleges, particularly architecture, art history, and design programs

  • Professional and corporate groups

  • Arts and cultural organizations

  • The curious of any stripe!

Pricing

These are premium, personalized experiences. Pricing reflects the research, planning, and quality of the tour. Contact me for a custom quote based on group size, tour length, and topic.

Lectures, Talks, and Media Appearances

I offer lively, accessible, and deeply researched lectures and media appearances on topics ranging from iconic architects to overlooked histories of America’s built environment. Whether addressing professional audiences, curious students, or the general public, my talks bring architecture to life with humor, insight, and a deep passion for storytelling.

My presentations are tailored to your audience—whether for conferences, universities, museums, cultural institutions, or corporate groups. I am equally comfortable delivering keynote talks, guest lectures, panel discussions, workshops, or media commentary.

Popular Topics Include:

  • Frank Lloyd Wright – His Midwest legacy, Usonian vision, and Michigan works

  • Detroit’s Architecture – From Albert Kahn Factories to Art Deco skyscrapers

  • The Saarinens – Eliel, Loja, Pipsan, and Eero Saarinen’s family legacy in American design

  • Architecture & Ornament – Theory and Practice

  • University Architecture – Collegiate Gothic, HBCU campuses, and the meaning of academic space

  • Shopping Malls & Entertainment Spaces – The rise, fall, and future of America’s social architecture

  • Postmodern Architecture & Design – Objects, buildings, and ideas that challenged modernist orthodoxy

Media Appearances

I am available for television, radio, podcasts, or print interviews, providing expert commentary on architecture, design, and cities. My media style is smart, relatable, and audience-friendly, helping connect complex ideas to everyday life.

Contact Kevin Adkisson

Whether you are looking to book a private tour, schedule a lecture, or request an interview, I would love to hear from you. Please fill out the form below or reach out via email.

Booking Inquiries

Tell me a bit about what you are looking for—your audience, group size, date, location, and any particular interests or goals. I personally respond to every request and will work with you to design a custom experience.

General Inquiries and Media Requests

Please feel free to get in touch with any questions, collaboration ideas, or media opportunities.