Creative Mixed Use, Adaptive Reuse, Multi-famliy Residential
Northwest Goldberg, Detroit
Clients: Matthew Naimi, Oren Goldenberg
Size:
90,000 SF
Dreamtroit is the adaptive reuse of the historic Lincoln Motor Factory into a mixed-use creative campus comprising affordable artist housing, commercial and event spaces. Dreamtroit is a porous development that welcomes the public from all sides of its uniquely shaped site. Responding to existing conditions as design opportunities, architectural relics are excavated and embedded with culture: several existing factory bays are transformed into an outdoor event theater, an existing art wall + sculpture park are expanded upon, and decades of existing graffiti are on display within the living and commercial interiors of the project. Located between the Motown Museum and the College for Creative Studies, Dreamtroit offers an ideal setting for Detroit’s creative community. The site is within walking distance to the Fisher Building, New Center, Wayne State University, and Woodbridge. This strategic reuse design proposal comprised site-planning, programming and concept design — and were awarded both the RFP for the project and the support of the Detroit Detroit City Planning Department.
Seventy-six apartment and live-work artist housing units make use of the aesthetic and functional qualities of original architectural parts, including tiered Albert Kahn precast concrete columns, stacked bricks and industrial-style windows that provide ample daylight. Utilitarian bathroom and kitchen designs are a functional backdrop to artist dwellers. Dreamtroit’s 76 residential units have a mix of affordable levels including 20% at or below 50% AMI, 50% at or below 80% AMI and the remaining balance below the workforce housing level of 120% AMI. Current programming includes a public art park, Recycle Here! neighborhood recycling center, and Green Living Science, which provides environmental education for Detroit-area schoolchildren. Current commercial tenants include Michigan & Trumbull Pizzeria, The Lincoln Factory, a grocery store and 1+1+ Architects’ first office.
Project Team: Design Architect: 1+1+ Architects
Architect of Record: Kraemer Design Group
Construction: MiG Construction LLC
Photography: Laura Marie Peterson, Dua Duran