The Michigan Central Station: Re-Discovering Identity Among Ruins

Abstract

The Michigan Central Station will be re-conceptualized as a landmark representing a sustainable and active community building for the surrounding area. This will be an example of a method for designing in derelict areas where buildings have lost their original purpose and identity. Creating multiple programmatic models to be tested and analyzed for their social and cultural implications will help develop a set of strategies and ideas to re-discover identity for the train depot and its surrounding context. Physical strategies will be identified for adaptive reuse; each will be developed further through interaction with these complementary paradigms. While respecting Detroit's history of industry and culture and exploring the implications of revision, the research done will provide ideas to create a new life for the Michigan Central Station and stimulate a new urban community. Complementary physical strategies will be overlaid with these paradigms to further develop strategies for adaptive reuse of the train depot.