Design, construction approved for UM Center for Innovation in Detroit
The University of Michigan Board of Regents approved the schematic design and construction for first building for Center for Innovation in Detroit. Construction has been approved for a six-story University of Michigan building in Detroit, the first of three buildings planned for the $250 million UM Center for Innovation in Detroit. The building, expected to open in spring 2027, will provide educational programs for workforce development and attract high-tech companies. It will also host community engagement activities for residents of Detroit and enhance job creation in the city, region and state. The project is funded by $100 million from real estate billionaire Stephen Ross, $100 in tax dollars through the state of Michigan, and $50 million from donors.
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Construction will soon ramp up on a six-story University of Michigan building in the heart of Detroit, the first of three buildings planned for the $250 million UM Center for Innovation in Detroit.
The schematic design of the 200,000 square-foot building and and an authorization to proceed with construction was approved Thursday by the UM Board of Regents. Regent Denise Ilitch recused herself from the vote.
The first building, expected to open in spring 2027, is part of the center that will stand at the intersection of Grand River Avenue and West Columbia Street. It will provide educational programs for workforce development for individuals and companies to create a a talent pool to attract and sustain high-tech companies, UM officials have said. It will be designed to advance innovation and talent focused-community development to enhance job creation in the city, region and state.
"UMCI will bring together the best of the University of Michigan to catalyze economic development in the city of Detroit," said UM Provost Laurie McCauley. "It will house a robust portfolio of academic programs, including new interdisciplinary graduate degrees and certificate programs aligned to the skills of the future needed to attract startups as well as major employers to the region.
"UMCI will also host a multitude of community engagement activities for the residents of Detroit, ranging from K-12 programs like the Michigan Engineering Zone to the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project and many more."
UM, Detroit and state officials celebrated the ground breaking broke in December of the research, education and entrepreneurship center, and preliminary site work has been ongoing.
During the regents meeting, Hana Kassem, a design principal with Kohn Pedersen Fox, an architectural firm, showed designs and a video of the building, with the lower floors containing public-facing programs and upper floors dedicated primarily for graduate programs.
She also noted that the first two floors will house public programs, a cafe and shared office space for the UM Detroit Center, Admissions Office, School of Environment and Sustainability Clinic and others, while levels three through six are planned for graduate research.
"The UMCI is a catalyst for positive change and, as such, presents itself along Grand River Avenue as a 'gateway for innovation,'" Kassem said.
"It proudly bears the University of Michigan spirit focusing on progress and inclusivity, which is embodied in its dynamic forward-leaning form and the portal that cuts through it, inviting access to all. Its transparent facade at street level engages the passerby, showcasing innovation, by putting making and research on display."
The other two buildings, which will serve as an incubator space and a residential building, will be developed in the future.
The UMCI is funded with $100 million from real estate billionaire Stephen Ross, $100 million in tax dollars through the state of Michigan and $50 million from donors.