Woodbridge home project teaches students about using salvaged products

Architecture students learned about sustainability, energy-conservation and building with salvaged products when they were assigned to design a new home from the remains of an abandoned mansion.

The project, which began in January 2006, entailed developing a design for a new, energy-efficient 1,600-1,800 square foot home utilizing the wood flooring, cabinets, leaded glass windows and other items from a historic mansion in Highland Park, Illinois. The mansion had been deconstructed by Architectural Salvage Warehouse in Detroit. When a buyer becomes available, the home will be built on a lot in historic Woodbridge neighborhood in Detroit. A lot has already been donated by the Woodbridge Neighborhood Development Corporation for the home. The home, which would then be customized by the buyer, would utilize such energy-efficiencies as solar heating.

This project was recently featured in a video segment produced by Channel 2's "Fox Energy Team."  View the segment on Fox 2's web site (a brief ad precedes the video).

New center will provide housing for Katrina victims

The St. Joseph Recovery Center is a unique collaboration among four independent nonprofit service providers including the Detroit Collaborative Design Center. Their post-Katrina union establishes a more comprehensive approach to providing care and support for the homeless population of New Orleans. The project provides an example of another more humane way of using trailers in disaster situations not specified by FEMA plans.

Construction of the St. Joseph Recovery Center

The Design Center formulated the master plan for the campus of trailers. The design utilizes six trailers connected by urban outdoor space or a plaza used for gathering. New construction weaves around the trailers incorporating them as integral parts of the design. Wayne Troyer Architects of New Orleans was the architect of record of the master plan, following the process through construction. Four spaces not housed in trailers were a food distribution center, a meeting space for 200-300 people, an information kiosk, and a small freestanding office. These project elements were designed and constructed by the Design Center.

UDM Architecture students help create fun miniature golf in Detroit

This past summer, instead of studying the masterpieces of Rembrandt Peale, Georgia O'Keefe and Andy Warhol in ornate frames, thousands of Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) visitors "put on the green" thanks to some creative folks at University of Detroit Mercy's School of Architecture. Read more in UDM's news and DIA's news.