SO-IL, in partnership with Detroit’s Library Street Collective, has revealed the design for a new arts campus in the Stanton Yards marina on the Detroit River. The office is leading the adaptive reuse of four existing pre-war industrial buildings at Stanton Yards with the aim of creating a campus for arts organizations, creative retail, artist studios, and independent hospitality ventures along the waterfront. The master plan for the 13-acre site is led by design firm OSD (Office of Strategy + Design), a development that strives to transform the now-disused waterfront area into a 'dynamic cultural amenity' with over 80,000 square feet of commercial and creative space, 85 boat slips, and programmed waterfront parks. The project aims to expand upon the program of Detroit's Little Village, a diverse arts neighborhood recognized for its cultural and artistic scene.
The new multi-art campus will be connected with the existing marina on the Detroit River. The revived spaces of the four industrial buildings included in the project are designed to adapt to multiple art-making, workshop, educational, performance, gallery, and recreational activities. The renovation of the four structures, which encompass a former theater, marina showrooms, service shops, and a navy shipyard utilized during World War II, aims to establish new fronts along Jefferson Avenue, facilitating public access to the inner spaces and waterfront. Led by SO – IL Principal Florian Idenburg, the design will showcase the buildings’ historical architecture by selectively removing sections while incorporating cohesive features and enhancing accessibility.
The entry plaza along Jefferson Avenue will receive a sloped mesh canopy, adding a sense of identity to the space, while the perforations in the street-facing structures open up the space so that the public is invited to explore the additional spaces such as the courtyards and the site-s core. This central public space creates cohesion in the urban space, supporting community events, art installations, and leisure activities.
The ethos that 'new ideas must use old buildings' guides our transformation of Stanton Yards into a thriving, multifaceted community. Our design ingrains four historic buildings with tactility and refinement while paying homage to the site's robust nautical character. Revitalizing these old structures catalyzes innovation and creativity, transforming the site into an incubator for fresh ideas. In the spaces between, we envision a platform for diverse community-focused programming. These buildings become more than just a backdrop; they emerge as integral components of an evolving urban landscape. - Florian Idenburg, Co-founding Principal of SO – IL.
The facades of the four buildings included in the scheme are planned to be revitalized without losing their historical roots. The project favors the reuse of existing materials. Stretches of the metal siding will be replaced with translucent polycarbonate to increase natural light, while new windows and skylights contribute to opening up the space. The intervention also highlights a palette of familiar yet contrasting materials such as polished metal, hammered concrete, and layered brick. The landscaping is led by the Office of Strategy + Design (OSD), focused on restoring the natural beauty of the location.
OSD, led by Partner Simon David, is also designing the master plan for the 13-acre marina site, integrating a new waterfront restaurant and office building. This design harmonizes existing buildings and the marina into an arts-focused campus, with sustainability as a central theme. The plan reconnects Jefferson Avenue to the Detroit River while incorporating diverse cultural and ecological features. Stanton Yards will offer public access to arts, ecology, boating, and waterfront activities, with cultural programming led by Library Street Collective and neighborhood stakeholders.
On a similar note, SO-IL has recently revealed its contribution to the Bruges Triennial: Spaces of Possibility. Titled “Common Thread,” the temporary installation creates a passage made from a 3D knit textile, intending to help visitors rediscover the courtyard of a 19th-century monastery. The Brooklyn-based office has also recently presented its design for a new campus art museum at Williams College in Massachusetts, created to become a primary teaching resource for the institution renowned for its art history program.
