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