Grosse Pointe Park Civic Campus
JIMA Studio worked with the City of Grosse Pointe Park to rethink their Civic Campus, a central area that includes the historic City Hall, the Public Safety Building, and the Public Library. As the city’s front door at the east border of the city of Detroit, the current space is underutilized and could serve residents and visitors better with a stronger landscape approach. To develop an appropriate landscape strategy, JIMA Studio led several meetings with city officials, analyzed previous city and regional planning processes, and created a public online survey, which yielded over 250 responses. The resulting design works to preserve and improve functional uses such as access to post office and library drop boxes, easy access for public safety vehicles and convenient parking, while also offering opportunities for expanded public use of open spaces on the site.
Client
City of Grosse Pointe Park DDA
Location
Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
Year
2023
The present Civic Campus hosts many public facing buildings that are accessed by residents daily, including the Main Public Library, City hall and the Public Safety Building. The colocation of these uses are important and convenient but poses some circulation challenges that create conflicts between drivers and pedestrians. The Civic Campus vision considers these challenges to develop a cohesive landscape that makes the flow between these buildings feel natural, inviting, and better connected.
The engagement strategy included (2) evening presentations with City Council and an online survey. Survey takers were able to affirm which design ideas they wanted to be evaluated, what programs should be incorporated into the Civic Campus, and comments on the overall look and feel of the reimagined space.
The resulting visioning integrates plazas and curbless streets to create a unified public space that puts the pedestrian first. With a stronger gesture toward Jefferson Avenue, the Civic Campus welcomes visitors grandly where they might conduct important city business. The plan considers flexible green space, resiliency strategies, and unifying characters that brings the buildings together.
Team
Ujijji Williams | Shandra Bernath-Plaisted
Location
Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
Credits
Post Production: Bold Studio Design
