UM Partners

Community Design Projects

TCAUP Detroit Community Design Center
Vanguard Commmunity Development Corporation (VCDC) / Grandmont-Rosedale Commmunity Development Corporation (GRDC)

Professionally, the Design Center looks to serve as a public resource for issues of design and planning, provide planning, design and technical assistance to low- and moderate-income urban residents, neighborhoods and communities, many of which have limited resources and actively develop responsive design and planning practices and products. Below are two of the projects we are currently engaged in: A) GRANDMONT-ROSEDALE Grandmont-Rosedale is an area of neighborhoods bound by Asbury Park and Evergreen on the east and west, and McNichols (6 Mile) and Schoolcraft on the north and south. The Detroit Community Design Center worked with the Grandmont-Rosedale Development Corporation (GRDC) to explore possibilities for new types of housing units (i.e. live/work, etc.) that might address and/or shape the changing demographics in various ways while maintaining its traditional character. In addition, we will develop an overall neighborhood identity through the creation of a gateway, signage and other design elements as determined by GRDC and the Grandmont-Rosedale community. B) NORTHEND Home to approximately 8,340 people, the Northend has a proud history as one of Detroit's historic African-American enclaves. Today, however, the Northend reflects many of the social, economic and physical challenges that many other urban communities are facing. The Detroit Community Design Center worked with the Vanguard Community Development Corporation (VCDC), the non-profit outreach arm of Second Ebenezer Church, one of the largest churches in Detroit, and located in the Northend neighborhood. We will focus on a concentrated 4-block impact study of new neighborhood housing in the Northend community. Scope of work includes designing prototype housing units for single, multi-family and/or live/work units where impact on surrounding development will be greatest and applicable as a model for future development and design character within the current neighborhood.

Detroit Area Study

Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

The Detroit Area Study (DAS) was established in 1951 as a research and training facility at the university with a goal of providing accurate and valuable data for the Detroit metropolitan community. DAS 2001 is intended to produce information that will inform decisions at the public, corporate, and household levels. At the same time, the data will serve as a benchmark for assessing the quality of life changes that occur in the region throughout the 21st century. Funding sponsors include: SEMCOG and the Michigan Economic Development Commission.

Detroit Community Design Center

Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (TCAUP)

The University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (TCAUP) Detroit Community Design Center focuses on providing ethical, participatory, socio-economically sensitive, aesthetically innovative and implementable design and planning solutions to public, private and institutional clientele in primarily, but not exclusively, under-served urban communities. Its method of environmental engagement is one of teaching and practicing in a manner that derives from, is relevant to, and vigorously engages the community in which the architecture and planning are placed. In short, the TCAUP Detroit Community Design Center aspires to plan and design with, not for, local community-based development organizations, residents, as well as interested public and private institutions. We will fulfill our mission by employing three primary strategies of engagement – design, research and education.

Detroit Design Charrette

Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

Top urban designers from across the nation gathered in January with Detroit’s leading design professionals in an intensive, five-day planning and design workshop that focused on how to build on the rejuvenation of downtown area neighborhoods and entertainment districts in the annual Detroit Design Charrette undertaken by the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (TCAUP). Now in its fourth year, The University’s first charrette focused on the Lower Cass area of Detroit. The greater Corktown and Briggs Neighborhoods were selected as the focus of the 2000 charrette to identify new growth opportunities surrounding Tiger Stadium, and last year’s workshop focused on the Grand River Corridor.

Detroit Eastside Community Collaborative

Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

The Detroit Eastside Community Collaborative requested the assistance of TCAUP through the Detroit Community Partnership Center activities continue this semester the biggest project is an assessment of the potential for retail development on Detroit's Eastside. 18 students are working on this as their final, "capstone," project in urban planning. They are assessing market potential for the area, where can redevelopment occur and what barriers to development exist. The students will be doing a presentation at the conference of the Community Development Advocates of Detroit April 4, a final presentation April 17.

Studies in Urban Security Group

Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

The Studies in Urban Security Group of the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning conducts monthly response time analyses and prepares reports on unit availability for Police, Fire and EMS divisions of the City of Detroit. The Group also evaluates the Computer-Sided dispatch, automatic vehicle locator, mobile data terminal, and enhanced 911 systems annually and makes recommendations as to how to improve the systems.

Studio: Detroit - Graduate Design Studio

Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (TCAUP)

Through the application of service learning principles to the study and practice of architecture, the graduate design studio entitled STUDIO: DETROIT provides Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (TCAUP) students with opportunities to both gain experience practicing architecture, thereby expanding both their educational and professional experience as well as their employment opportunities upon graduation, and serves under-represented communities of the Detroit Metro area through the provision of architectural services. The immediate goals of the studio are to develop teaching and learning strategies that may be incorporated in professional academic curricula to provide a comprehensive introduction to community design as well as offer opportunities for students to develop “core competencies” of architectural practice by partnering with communities to address issues of community concern and importance. We will fulfill our mission by employing three primary strategies of engagement – design, research and education. This effort was supported by a grant from the Center for Learning and Research in Teaching (CLRT) and additional funding from the TCAUP.

TCAUP High School Architecture Immersion Program

TCAUP Detroit Community Design Center
Ms. Shirley Woodson Reid, Supervisor of the Office of Fine Arts Education for the Detroit Public Schools and Tyrone Winfrey, Associate Director of Admissions for the University of Michigan

STUDIO:DETROIT-HS is an integrated architectural immersion education and mentoring program designed for highly motivated high school students who have been traditionally under-represented in the field of architecture. It is a unique opportunity for interested Detroit area high school juniors and seniors to learn about and explore the possibilities of a career as an architect as well as be matched early in their exploration to mentors in the field. STUDIO:DETROIT-HS is initially designed as a twice-a-week, 14-week course for 15 students, with the ultimate objective of expanding into a year-round (4 semester) offering with the ability to serve up to 90 HS students a year. The curriculum takes a practical, hands-on approach to the study of architecture through the integration of studio work, educational field trips, seminars and lectures. The core elements of the architectural immersion program are a design studio, professional, academic and architectural tours and the establishment of a mentor program. Through these program areas, students will employ the tools of drawing, drafting, digital media, hands-on model-making and building, as well as be introduced to the history and theory of architecture while learning the basics of how to apply their newfound knowledge to real world conditions in Detroit. The program secured architectural internships from the architectural firm of Hamilton-Anderson for program participants. We hope to expand this opportunity to several offices as the program matures.