16921 Livernois Avenue
Marygrove — Detroit, Michigan
The relationship between a community and their built environment are essential to foster a prosperous growth. The physical development of neighborhoods has a vital impact on the people within its boundaries. Residents in the vicinity of the University of Detroit Mercy have been longing for a landmark representative of their neighborhood.
On the corner of McNichols and Livernois, lies 16921, a space barren and bleak. However, this adaptive reuse project aims to serve as a unifying purpose for community members and students alike, creating a greater connection between campus and community. The resurgence of the building across the campus will provide a space for conversing among peers and promote learning in a comfortable environment for people of all ages to thrive in.
The existing vacant 20,000-square-foot, two-story building is located in the heart of the “Live6” corridor at McNichols and Livernois, directly across from the University of Detroit Mercy campus and near the bustling Avenue of Fashion.
Newly proposed east elevation along the growing Livernois Avenue, activating the street and creating a new landmark for both the community and campus.
Building section illustrating the relationship between programmatic adjacencies, circulation, and shared social spaces, while highlighting connections between study areas and communal spaces.
Updated west elevation, enhancing the alleyway as a connection to the surrounding neighborhood while maintaining privacy for the building and its occupants.