Wayne State University Divine 9 Plaza
The Wayne State Divine Plaza is a commemorative space that celebrates the legacy and future of the historically African American fraternities and sororities on campus. JIMA Studio was selected to memorialize the history of the affiliated organizations on campus, and leverage the plaza as an opportunity to educate visitors of the value their organizations have brought to the school. The site, in turn, acts as a personal refuge for other students of color who may not recognize other respites on campus as culturally relevant. The final conceptual design focuses on equitable usable space, spaces for ceremony, and native planting.
Client
Wayne State University
Location
Detroit, Michigan
Year
2023-2024
The school helped a student committee select this underutilized courtyard near the Art Building as a place to reimagine the Divine 9 Plaza. The courtyard is due for repairs so that revisioning effort was well-timed with the school’s maintenance schedule.
Team
Ujijji Williams | Joseph Powell
Location
Detroit, Michigan
Credits
Architect: Quinn Evans Architects
Post Production: Bold Studio Design
Site analysis included evaluating the location of the plaza in the context to student movement. The site was also considered for its present characteristics, capacity and circulation.
A student committee was formed to lead the process. A representative from each affiliated organization was present to help make design decisions, share information to other student groups and hold the school accountable in their committee to this important landscape.
Several design iterations were conducted and shared with the student committee to understand the preferred aesthetic and how the site might be used. Some design guidelines included a desire for each organization to have equal representation within the plaza and to keep all text and information at eye level.
The final design features 9 vertical stone totems that provides the name of each organization, their dates of incorporation and the creed they follow. The plaza itself has ceremonial stairs that may serve as a gathering area, or a stage, for special events, graduation photos, studying, step shows and other campus activities. The site is buffered by a vegetated planter to maintain the plaza’s intimacy.
