Cultural Center Plan
The Cultural Center Planning Initiative (CCPI) is a visionary plan to guide the long-term transformation of Detroit’s Cultural Center — strengthening its public spaces, infrastructure, mobility, digital connectivity, and visitor experience for the benefit of Detroit residents, institutions, students, and visitors. The plan was developed with Cultural Center institutions, civic partners, community stakeholders, and a design team led by Agence Ter and Akoaki, with a digital strategy plan by rootoftwo. The CCPI established a shared vision and implementation framework for the district, addressing public space, mobility, parking, land use, development opportunities, digital infrastructure, and long-term district sustainability.
WHY THE PLAN MATTERS
The Detroit Cultural Center is one of Michigan’s most significant concentration of arts, culture, education, science, and public learning. The CCPI provides a roadmap for making the district more welcoming, connected, accessible, sustainable, and easier to navigate.
The plan is designed to:
- Improve the visitor experience
- Create safer and more beautiful public spaces
- Strengthen connections between institutions
- Support walkability, mobility, and accessibility
- Address shared infrastructure needs
- Help position the Cultural Center as a vibrant civic destination
how the plan was developed
July 2017
DIA Receives Grants to Create a Vision
The DIA receives grants from the William Davidson Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program to hire a landscape design firm to create a vision for a new plaza in front of the DIA
February 2018
Design Competition Planned
A design competition is planned to select a designer. Steering Committee appoints a jury of leaders in the fields of urban planning and design, architecture, curatorial practice and arts administration to judge submissions.
March 2018
Midtown Detroit, Inc. Receives Grant
Midtown Detroit, Inc. receives a grant from local foundations to join the DIA as a partner on the project, which is expanded to include the entire Cultural Center.April 2018
International Design Competition is Launched
The DIA Plaza | Midtown Cultural Connections International Design Competition is launched.April 2018
The Competition Receives 44 Submissions
The competition receives 44 submissions from design teams representing 22 cities in 10 countries.May 2018
Semifinalists Selected
Jury selects 8 semifinalists to go forward in the competition.June 2018
Semifinalists Give Public Presentations
Semifinalists give public presentations in front of jury at the DIA.June 2018
Jury Selects 3 Teams to Move Forwards
Jury selects three design team to move forward and create detailed designs: Agence Ter (Paris), Mikyoung Kim Design (Boston), and TEN x TEN (Minneapolis)August 2018
Design Team Finalists are Announced to the Public
September 2018
Student Design Competition Launched
Student design competition launched to run parallel with the professional design competition.October 2018
Design Team Finalists Participate in Public Workshop
Professional design team finalists participate in a public workshop with 300 Detroiters at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.January 2019
Winners of the Complementary Student Design Competition are Announced
January 2019
Design Team Finalists Presents Their Detailed Plans
Professional design team finalists present detailed plans to jury and public in the Detroit Institute of Art�s Rivera Court.June 2019
The Winning Team is Announced
The Detroit Institute of Arts and Midtown Detroit, Inc. announce the design team consisting of Agence Ter, Akoaki, rootoftwo and Dr. Harley Etienne as the winner of the DIA Plaza | Midtown Cultural Connections International Design Competition. The competition ends.July 2019
The Cultural Center Planning Initiative Begins
August 2019
CCPI Phase One Begins
Discovery and Analysis. Completion of topographic survey.October 2019
CCPI Phase Two Begins
Framework and Concept Development. Completion of mobility study, parking survey, and storm water management study.January 2020
CCPI Phase Three Ends
Draft Masterplan and Cultural Center Planning Initiative. A framework plan and implementation strategy will be developed that will include phasing, long-term development options and maintenance strategies, along with cost estimates, renderings and animations.January 2020
CCPI Phase One Ends
August 2020
CCPI Phase Three Begins
Draft Masterplan and Cultural Center Planning Initiative. A framework plan and implementation strategy will be developed that will include phasing, long-term development options and maintenance strategies, along with cost estimates, renderings and animations.
Historic Sponsors
Sponsor A
Sponsor B
Sponsor C
Sponsor D
Sponsor E
Sponsor F
Sponsor G
Sponsor H
Sponsor I
Sponsor J
Award-Winning Vision
The CCPI received the prestigious “Partners in Progress” Award at the 2024 Bay Urban Visioning Awards. The award was presented at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao during the WRLDCTY global forum and Bay Awards Summit, celebrating pioneering urban initiatives that demonstrate visionary collaboration and long-term impact.
The CCPI also received THE PLAN Architecture Magazine’s 2024 Award for “Best Future Public Space Design,” which honored our design team, Agence Ter and Akoaki.
Design Team
Detroit Cultural Center Association
Launched in 2024, the Detroit Cultural Center Association (DCCA) oversees the CCPI, which was originally incubated under Midtown Detroit, Inc. This award-winning initiative exemplifies the power of public-private collaboration, bringing together cultural and educational institutions, local government, and private partners to reimagine Detroit’s Cultural Center. The CCPI focuses on infrastructure improvements, climate resilience, cultural programming, digital connectivity, and economic activity with collective stewardship and organization to improve life for all people.
