On September 18 and 19 at the annual Detroit Month of Design Festival, representatives of the cities of Detroit and Montréal got together to discuss ways in which the design sector can contribute to their economic, environmental and social transition ambitions.
More specifically, the meeting provided opportunities for exchanges on our cities’ respective initiatives for repurposing of legacy manufacturing and industrial sites in urban innovation zones. Montréal presented its most recent awareness-raising and decision-support tools: the Design Montréal Quality Toolkit and the Handbooks of Best Practices for Design and Architecture Quality for Industrial Sites, citing landmark examples along the Lachine Canal. Detroit, meanwhile, presented case studies of the Joe Louis and Southwest greenways, two industrial infrastructure repurposing projects that lie along sustainable mobility corridors. The discussions also covered the conversion of Michigan Central Station into an urban innovation hub, currently one of the most promising and inclusive urban research and development initiatives in the State of Michigan.
This mission was organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of Canada in Detroit and Design Core, the organization responsible for Detroit’s UNESCO City of Design initiatives. It included meetings with the senior executive of the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department as well as representatives of research groups such as Detroit Future City, philanthropic organizations like the Kresge Foundation, and environmental stewards including the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. It also attracted universities and schools such as the University of Michigan and the College for Creative Studies. U.S. professional associations and major real estate promoters were also involved. Lastly, we note the participation of Turin, another UNESCO City of Design, in a panel discussion between the three cities of the sub-network. That conversation encompassed the history, impact and potential of our City of Design statuses in achieving our shared United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
