Trenton Building Designers Win Award

Joseph Vig Jr. didn’t have to look far when nominating a business for the 2011 Image Award presented by the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber.

Vig, owner of J.S. Vig Construction, nominated longtime building partner Wilkie and Zanley Architects for the award, which goes to an individual or business that promotes a positive image of the Downriver area.

“This is the firm that has shaped the Downriver landscape for the last 50 years,” Vig said. “I thought it was appropriate that they win the Image Award Downriver.”

Wilkie and Zanley, located in Wyandotte and now part of the Sidock Group of Novi, is known for creating many high-profile buildings throughout the Downriver area, including a number in Trenton.

“Our organization has a business relationship that predates me, going back to the founding of the company in the 1960s,” said Vig, whose own firm is a past Image Award winner. “They have probably designed more buildings Downriver than any other architect by a long shot. They’ve probably done a building or two in every one of the 21 Downriver communities. That’s pretty significant when you think about it.”

The award was presented during the annual chamber of commerce Members Tribute held at the Downriver Italian American Club.

The firm is responsible for designing such Trenton buildings as the St. Joseph Catholic Church renovation, the and the Paul Frost Building, plus the nearby Josephine Ford Cancer Center in Brownstown.

Some of the high-profile buildings in other communities designed by Wilkie and Zanley include Lakes of Taylor Golf Club, the Flat Rock Community Center, the Gibraltar Municipal Complex, Huron Township Hall, Wyandotte City Hall and Yack Arena, the Downriver Council for the Arts, the Allen Park Recreation Center, the Romulus Recreation Center, all of the buildings at Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown Township and the Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education at the Downriver Campus of Wayne County Community College District in Taylor.

Just as significant as the buildings they’ve designed is the involvement in the Downriver communities in terms of community service over the past 50 years, Vig said. He noted that Yops and Wilkie–the original name of the firm–is a founding member of the chamber and has been active supporter of many Downriver nonprofit organizations.

The firm was founded in 1955 by Jack Yops. Wilkie was in college when he worked with Yops in the 1960s and joined the firm in 1967. Wilkie became a partner in 1975.

Yops retired in 1988 and died in 2002. Zanley, who joined the firm in 2974, became Wilkie’s partner in 2004. All three called Southern Wayne County home.

“The firm of Wilkie and Zanley has won numerous awards for design and citizenship over almost 50 years in business,” said chamber President Sandy Mull. “They have been chamber members for 43 years and played an active role in setting both business and civic standards of conduct for the region.”

She said Wilkie and Zanley “express a commitment and desire to improve this region for their own children and grandchildren who live in Southern Wayne County. They challenge others to remain committee to the region and the betterment of its business and residential communities.”

Speaking on behalf of the firm, Wilkie said they were honored to receive the Image Award and were pleased that so many of their clients and partners were in the Members Tribute audience to witness it.

Wilkie said he and Zanley were young when they took their first jobs in the industry and went on to “a lifetime commitment to architecture.”

“Thank you very much,” Wilkie said. “This is a real honor.”

For more information on Wilkie and Zanley, visit the website www.sidockgroup.com or call (734) 285-1924.