Detroit & Beyond
Detroit Mercy's School of Architecture & Community Development is the only architecture school within Detroit’s city limits. For more than 50 years, it has garnered a respected and honored reputation for its knowledge and work in the city.
This distinct perspective and research have been recognized as relevant and applicable on both national and international levels. SACD is not merely an expert on Detroit-based urban architecture; it is a distinctive expert on urban architecture, based on its engaged work in Detroit. The city has been of interest — both positive and negative — to the world for decades. As eyes continue to focus on Detroit from every angle, SACD has been one of the key institutions at this nexus.
This has a direct impact on our students because the unique urban environment of Detroit, which is our home, is a condition that is widely explored at SACD in design studios, research engagements and is a popular subject in thesis work.
Detroit is our home,
not our laboratory.
We know it deeply as a place that is much more than an educational opportunity — there are beautiful neighborhoods and urban spaces.
Students have access to world class entertainment and sporting events, a riverfront that has won the “Best Riverfront in the USA” two years in a row, an extensive and growing greenway system for biking and relaxing and unique restaurants for all price ranges.
Students and faculty participate in the variety of annual events that occur in Detroit, including: Movement Music Festival; World Music Festival; Jazz Festival; Noel Night; Ford Fireworks; Nain Rouge; and DLECTRICITY.
UNESCO City of Design
In 2015, Detroit became the first American city to be named a UNESCO City of Design, an honor that recognizes our city's design legacy and commitment to promote cultural and creative industries.
With this designation, Detroit joined a network of 40 cities around the world using design to improve the lives of everyday people, ensuring a more sustainable and equitable future for all Detroit residents.
Detroit Month of Design
Every September, creatives across Detroit — from emerging studios to established institutions — come together for the Detroit Month of Design Festival, which celebrates the city's role as a national and global design capital.
These cross-disciplinary events take place in all corners of the city, highlighting the talent and innovation that makes Detroit a UNESCO City of Design.
