Come toge­ther

From brown­field to crowd favo­rite: Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centen­nial Park trans­forms Detroit’s water­front into open and flexible offe­rings for sports, nature and commu­nity – inclu­ding an outdoor arena and water­front living.

Where indus­trial ruins once domi­nated the banks of the Detroit River, a new urban space is now opening up: at 8.9 hectares, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centen­nial Park is trans­forming a huge former waste­land into a vibrant meeting place for the whole of Detroit. The park is more than just green space – it is a new inter­face between the city, the river and the commu­nity.

The inter­na­tional compe­ti­tion for the Detroit River­front Conser­vancy was won by Adjaye Asso­ciates toge­ther with Michael Van Valken­burgh Asso­ciates (MVVA). Their approach: harmo­ni­zing archi­tec­ture and land­scape – flexible, robust and desi­gned for future growth.

MVVA deve­loped a resi­lient, year-round park land­scape with spacious lawns, play areas, prome­nades, gardens and sustainable green infra­struc­ture. The open spaces are desi­gned to adapt to diffe­rent uses and seasons – from quiet sojourns to large commu­nity events.

The archi­tec­tural iden­tity of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centen­nial Park is charac­te­rized in parti­cular by the William Davidson Sport House. The 2,600 m² open-air hall is supported by 33 steel columns, above which spans a sculp­tural concrete roof with an appro­xi­m­ately 185 m² skylight. Daylight floods the open struc­ture, which houses a stan­dard-compliant basket­ball hall. The space func­tions both as a sports hall and as an outdoor faci­lity and enables sports and leisure use day and night, at any time of year.

The ensemble is comple­mented by two further pavi­lions with sani­tary and communal areas.

The design was deve­loped in close consul­ta­tion with the deve­lo­pers, spon­sors and users. Between 2018 and 2021, six large public meetings were held with over 800 parti­ci­pants. In addi­tion, school programs, neigh­bor­hood meetings and exhi­bi­tions were held throug­hout the city, reaching more than 5,000 people in total.

The result is not just the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centen­nial Park on the Detroit River, but an inclu­sive urban space that brings people back to the water and re-estab­lishes the connec­tion between nature, city and commu­nity.

Adjaye Asso­ciates

Michael Van Valken­burgh Asso­ciates

Opening

2025

Photos

Johannes Bühl­be­cker
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