Zoe SPENCER

REVITALIZE DETROIT

ZOE SPENCER DREXEL UNIVERSITY ARCHITECTURAL THESIS 2016 ADVISER: JOHN DEFAZIO

“We’re all tied to this city and reflected in it, because it’s so central to the American narrative, so emblematic of our triumphs and humiliations, such a referendum on what we’re capable of, in terms of neglect and in terms of salvation.

If New York is a measure of our financial might and Los Angeles a yardstick for our imagination, Detroit is a gauge of our soul.”

- Frank Bruni, New York Times

1910: 285,700

Detroit was once known as a great industrial powerhouse, building the middle class of America. But, due to huge loss of economy and population, the city is now a ghost of the place it once was. Detroit now has the oppurtunity to become a smaller, efficient, better run and more interesting city, a RESILIENT CITY.

A CITY OF MULTIPLE EMPLOYMENT DISTRICTS

2010: 713,000

WEST SIDE

PALMER PARK

AND HIGHLK PAR

TH NOR END

MCK TRA HAM

A CITY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO OPPURTUNITY

1950: 1,850,000

NEW ER T CEN

WN

50 YEAR LAND USE VISION

SOUTHWEST DETROIT

OR

MIDTOWN ON CORRID ERS JEFF

N DOW N TOW

A CITY OF DISTINCT, ATTRACTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS

TO CORK D WOODGE BRI

A GREEN CITY WHERE LANDSCAPES CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH

AE ST E SID E E ISL BELL

A D A N CA

NEW GOVERNING MODELS

CREATIVE ECONOMY

INNOVATIVE LAND USE

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

CANFIELD HIST. DISTRICT

SHINOLA

North Cass is an up-and-coming neighborhood in Midtown, Detroit, surrounded by Eds and Meds districts, full of history, grit and character.

The site was originally developed in the late 1870s through to the 1920s, leaving behind Victorian homes and light industrial buildings. A light rail system connecting Midtown to Downtown Detroit is under construction for the area, creating an oppurtunity for North Cass to become a dense, walkable neighborhood. Currently, the urban fabric is full of “missing teeth” and the district lacks cohesion and a central place for public life.

MIDTOWN INC.

DETROIT MEDICAL CENTER

DETROIT SCHOOL OF ARTS

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Warren-Prentis District

Sugar Hill/ John R Music & Art West Canfield District

Willis-Selden District

Cass-Davenport District

FIGURE GROUND

OPEN SPACE

HISTORIC DISTRICTS

CLIMATE & TOPOGRAPHY

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

1/2 MILE

1/4 MILE

DETROIT MEDICAL CENTER

In order to re-build a post-industrial city, revitalization efforts should target neighborhood centers as catalysts for change and community anchors. This thesis creates a master plan for North Cass, Detroit, with a 21st century town hall at it’s center.

NEW CENTER

TECHTOWN ART CENTER WANYE STATE

NORTH CASS BRUSH PARK CASS PARK

DOWNTOWN

STRATEGIES 1. GREEN NETWORK 2. CREATIVE CORRIDOR 3. DISTRICT CENTER

The North Cass master plan is based off an indepth study of the district and its surroundings.

A similar grassroots approach should be used for urban planning across Detroit and even in other post-industrial cities.

DEVELOPMENT GROUPS

INSTITUTIONS

The Hive brings together new governing models in one place, to maximize collaboration, working together to make Detroit a better place. The building is designed for flexible office spaces, so that over time it can continue to be a central place for the community as the city progresses. The ground floor is an extension of the public plaza, while the top floor contains an event space and daycare, for maximum potential use for the community throughout the day.

SPECIALTY GROUPS

DATA DRIVEN DETROIT

EVENT SPACE

DAYCARE

SITE PROGRAM INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNITY BASED RESIDENTIAL RETAIL/MIXED-USE

85,000 SF 27,000 SF 80,000 SF 51,000 SF 243,000 SF

PUBLIC PLAZA

APARTMENTS DAYCARE RETAIL EVENT SPACE

OFFICES

EXHIBITION APARTMENTS CAFE BIKE SHOP & VISITOR CENTER

RESTAURANT

COMMUNITY GARDEN

GATHERING SPACE

MARKETPLACE WATER COLLECTION

ARTIST RESIDENCE

WORKSHOP & GALLERY

INSPIRATION URBAN ARTIFACTS NORTH CASS

WOODWARD PLAN 1805

PRECEDENTS

SENDAI MEDIATHEQUE

CITY TOWER

GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART

TOYO ITO

LOUIS KAHN & ANNE TYNG

STEVEN HOLL

SKIN AND SITE STUDIES

FALL REVIEW

PERSPECTIVE CONCEPT SKETCHES

BIKE SHOP

SITE SECTION

COFFEE

Trattoria

GATHER CREATE CULTIVATE

SITE PLAN

URBAN LAYERS

GLASS GUARDRAIL

TECHNICAL REVIEW N

METAL PANEL SLAB EDGE COVER & RIGID INSULATION

ACOUSTICAL PANELS AS NEEDED

PERFORATED COPPER PANEL WITH CUSTOM PERFORATED OPENINGS

SUN STUDY VISION GLASS WINDOW WALL

40’ BAY

STAINLESS STEEL FRAME WITH OUTRIGGERS

TRIANGULAR WAFFLE SLAB

CONCRETE COLUMN

STRUCTURAL BAY DIFFUSER TILE FLOORING

UNDERFLOOR HEATING / COOLING SYSTEM

REFLECTED CEILING PLAN

LIGHT RAIL STATION

RAINWATER HARVESTING

EVAPORATIVE POOL

AGRICULTURE

PERMEABLE PAVING DETROIT THERMAL

RAIN GARDEN

ORCHARD

- DISTRICT ENERGY - BIOMASS FUELED - UNDERGROUND STEAM ENERGY

ROOF PLAN

AGRI RIICULTURE CU ROOF TERRACE

4TH LEVEL PLAN

EVENT SPACE

DAYCARE

ROOF TERRACE

OUTDOOR PLAY AREA

2ND / 3RD LEVEL PLAN

In order to re-build a post-industrial city, revitalization efforts should target neighborhood centers as catalysts for change and community anchors. This thesis creates a master plan for North Cass, Detroit, with a 21st century town hall at it’s center.

Through the study of structure, geometry and public space, how can architecture promote collaboration, community and create a sense of place, ultimately building a sustainable neighborhood and resilient city?

FLEXIBLE OFFICE SPACE

SERVICE AREA AREA EA

CAFE

KITCH K KI IT EN N

B.O.H.

THE HIVE WIFI LOUNGE

RETAIL

YOGA STUDIO

RESTAURANT T

THE HUB BIKE SHOP

RETAIL

THE TH T E TOWE T OWE WE ER

THE MARKETPLACE

THE JOE

SPRAY PRAY RAY RA RAY FOUN FOUNT OUNT O N A AIN AINS AI I

RESTAURANT

RETAIL

LAWN LAWN WN N RETAIL

RAI RAIN A GAR GARDE RDE R DEN

PICNI NC NI AREA AR A REA A

THE LOFTS S

THE TH HE H E GR GRO GROV G R RO ROV OVE OV

RESTROOMS

THE THEATER

THE GROVE

MIXED-USE

RAIN GARDEN

THE MARKETPLACE

THE LOFTS

THE TOWER

LAWN & PICNIC AREA

THE THEATER

THE HUB

SUMMER

DRIVEN VOID - LIGHT - NATURAL VENTILATION - CIRCULATION

STORM WATER RETENTION AND RE-USE

SPRING/FALL

WINTER

GREEN ROOF

UNDERFLOOR HEATING/COOLING

LIGHT SCREEN

DAYLIGHTING

SITE RAINWATER HARVESTING WATER CISTERN

NORTH ELEVATION

SOUTH / WEST ELEVATION

Urban artifacts are not only preserved but continuously presented as propelling elements of development.

Aldo Rossi Landscape has become a lens through which the contemporary city is represented and a medium through which it is constructed.

Charles Waldheim

Streets and their sidewalks-the main public places of a city-are its most vital organs.

Jane Jacobs

Inevitably, life between buildings is richer, more stimulating and more rewarding than any combination of architectural ideas.

Jan Gehl

In a society becoming steadily more privatized... the public component of our lives is disappearing. Public life in good quality public spaces is an important part of a democratic life and a full life.

Jan Gehl