Skidmore Studio to Move into New Downtown Detroit Tech Hub

DETROIT, May 26, 2011– Skidmore Studio will be an anchor tenant in the historic Madison Theatre Building, a collaborative entrepreneurial hub for technology and creative companies. Tim Smith, Skidmore President and CEO, made the announcement earlier today.

Skidmore is a creative studio focusing on branding and marketing strategies, graphic design, motion graphics, interactive design and online media. Founded in Downtown Detroit in 1959, Skidmore built an early reputation for its illustrative work for the Big Three car companies. The studio relocated to Troy and Southfield in the mid-1970s, and to its current location in Royal Oak in 2004.  Skidmore plans to move their 23 employees to a 9,800 square foot space on the fourth floor of the Madison Theatre Building, located at 1555 Broadway, adjacent to the Detroit Opera House and Grand Circus Park, later this fall.

“We decided last year we wanted to be an integral part of the new excitement that is taking place in Downtown Detroit.  We have a reputation as being a creative leader in our industry, and this was a chance to align our actions with our words,” said Smith. “With the efforts of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and Creative Corridor leadership, this collaboration represents an incredible opportunity for us to play a tangible role in the city’s rebirth at a time when our organization is poised for rapid growth.”

Dan Gilbert, whose downtown real estate partnership purchased and is rebuilding the Madison property said Skidmore is exactly the type of company he wants to attract to downtown Detroit and the growing high-tech corridor.

“We are thrilled to add a great creative company like Skidmore Studio to the burgeoning ‘WEBward’ corridor.  Skidmore’s move downtown is just one more piece of evidence that the Detroit 2.0 movement is continuing to gain momentum as brain economy businesses rush to Detroit. These companies and their highly motivated team members are taking their talents to Motown, not only to occupy office space but to help create the kind of world-class high-tech urban core that is the new ambitious vision for our city. Stay tuned because many more are on their way,” said Gilbert.

Quicken Loans, subsidiary of Rock Holdings Inc., which Gilbert is the founder and chairman, moved 1,700 team members to Detroit last August, and will be moving another 2,000 full-time staff members to downtown by end of year.

Skidmore will begin building out its space in the Madison Building, preserving its architectural integrity, including the existing terracotta brick tile and steel ceiling beams. The studio also hopes to restore and display an early 1900’s Super Cinex movie projector, discovered on the floor during the construction.

The building was originally designed by architect C. Howard Crane and constructed in 1917 as part of the Madison Theater complex. The building’s two street level tenants – Angelina Italian Bistro and Stub Hub – will remain open for business while the upper floors are renovated.

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About Skidmore Studio: Skidmore is a design-focused creative studio. The studio works exclusively with businesses who want a tangible return on their investment. Those leaders who understand design is an investment, and there is a benefit to having a dynamic brand. With a team of graphic designers, illustrators, motion graphic artists, writers and brand strategists, Skidmore creates extraordinary solutions that challenge perceptions, start conversations and above all drive results. To view samples of Skidmore’s award-winning creative work, visit www.skidmorestudio.com.

About Quicken Loans Inc.:  Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender and among the five largest overall retail home lenders in the United States. The company closed a record $29 billion in retail home loan volume across all 50 states in 2010, and recently closed its 1 millionth loan. Quicken Loans employs approximately 3,700 team members and generates loan production from five web centers located in Michigan, Ohio and Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Michigan as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among all home mortgage lenders in the United States by J.D. Power and Associates for 2010. “QuickenLoans.com” has been named “Best of the Web” by Forbes and Money magazines. The company also has been named to FORTUNE magazine’s list of the country’s “100 Best Companies To Work For” eight consecutive years, ranking as high as #2, and named in the Top-15 of Computerworld magazine’s “100 Best Places to Work In Technology” for six years in a row. Quicken Loans ranked #1 in the Detroit Free Press’ ‘Top Workplaces of 2010’ List. The company recently moved its headquarters and 1,700 of its 3,700 full-time team members to downtown Detroit. For more information about Quicken Loans, please visit www.quickenloans.com.

About Rock Holdings Inc:  Rock Holdings Inc. is the parent company for several financial services related businesses and employs more than 4,000 team members. These client-focused and technologically-driven companies include Quicken Loans, the nation’s largest online home lender and One Reverse Mortgage unit, the fastest growing reverse mortgage lender in America; Title Source, a nationwide leader of title insurance and settlement services; Quicken Loans Mortgage Services (QLMS), a mortgage origination platform servicing community banks and credit unions across the country; In-House Realty, the preferred real estate partner of Quicken Loans that matches clients with trusted real estate agents in all 50 states; and, Quizzle.com, the online innovator and website where consumers manage their home, money and credit. Rock Holdings, Inc. also recently moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit.