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Sanjay Gangal
Sanjay Gangal is the President of IBSystems, the parent company of AECCafe.com, MCADCafe, EDACafe.Com, GISCafe.Com, and ShareCG.Com. TechTown District Plan in Detroit, MI by Sasaki AssociatesMay 12th, 2013 by Sanjay Gangal
Article source: Sasaki Associates TechTown—an emerging knowledge district in Midtown Detroit—is currently characterized by surface parking, vacant properties, and inward-facing, siloed hubs of activity. The TechTown District Plan-articulates an inspiring vision for the revitalization of the district. Developed by Sasaki Associates in collaboration with Midtown Detroit Inc. and U3 Ventures,the plan accelerates innovation, promotes entrepreneurship, and builds community around the generation of ideas in a vibrant, mixed-use setting.  Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates
 Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates Leveraging the potential of key institutional anchors within the district (Wayne State University, College for Creative Studies, and Henry Ford Health System), the plan creates an environment that fosters knowledge generation and innovation. The plan re-purposes the historic building stock with uses that support innovation and create vibrancy, and also strengthens connections within Midtown Detroit and to surrounding neighborhoods.  Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates A key feature of the plan, and an early action item, is a plaza at the heart of the district that contains a variety of program and design elements to foster creativity and the exchange of ideas throughout all seasons, flexible places and spaces for planned and serendipitous gatherings. “Collaboration cubes”—moveable, adaptable workstations—can be reconfigured and relocated to meet specific user needs.  Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates The cubes also become icon for the district. Fabrication labs anchor the southern side of the plaza. A projection screen, climbing wall, fire pits, and a café with seating among a grove of trees attract knowledge and creative workers to the heart of the district. The plaza hosts events such as a “maker’s fair” and “hacker challenge” in the summer, while curling lanes and campfires activate the plaza during the winter.  Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates A community park and two additional plazas connected along landscaped corridors provide a range of amenities. This robust public realm framework and urban design strategy transforms parking lots and vacant sites into places for people to come together.  Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates Environmental, economic, and cultural sustainability are foundational elements of the plan. Public open space improvements create a walkable district that reduces demand for parking, and provide access to new light rail transit. The plan contains an exercise circuit and integrated bicycle network to promote health and wellness. Landscape strategies include bioswales to enhance infiltration and reduce surface run off, while streetscape improvements increase pervious surfaces. The economy of the district focuses on local production of goods and services, and job creation around innovation. The plan preserves the district’s history and character through adaptive reuse of historic buildings.  Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates The team employed a variety of strategies to encourage participation in the TechTown planning process. A regular series of open forums included presentations from experts in innovation districts and research parks, urban design, and planning. Interactive games, such as the “Circuit Board” and the “Coin Survey” allowed the community to test program and design alternatives, and to rank strategies for investment.  Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates “MyTechTown”—an interactive online graphic survey—collected constituents’ qualitative impressions of the district, which helped the design team tailor the planning, programming, and urban design strategies. The vision for TechTown will be realized over time. Initial investments will occur at the heart of the district, beginning with the creation of a pedestrian priority zone that reinforces connections.  Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates  Image Courtesy Sasaki Associates
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