Community

Architecture and community development students are encouraged to work toward a cultural understanding that well-designed spaces are not just for some people — they are for all people.

Like a mosaic — where each tile can be unique while still creating a bigger picture — we thrive when each of us retains our identity while still being a part of a larger community. In SACD, you are a unique and cherished individual and community member.

Every SACD student will engage with communities, witness their complex issues and learn public interest design strategies. Educating students that the social and physical impact of architecture and community development go hand-in-hand, SACD envisions a world with just, ecological and inspiring communities.

SACD’s approach to leadership focuses on collaboration and knowledge-sharing among many stakeholders. This can challenge students’ ideas of what leadership and civic engagement mean. Through real examples, they see how leaders who work with and engage their communities — whether neighborhoods, businesses or friends — can inspire action and create change.

SACD’s cornerstone of civic engagement is seen in the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, the Community Development Capstone, the Public Interest Design Studio and Special Topics students, like the annual NOMA and HipHop studios. In these programs, students learn a collaborative model of research and leadership that values everyone’s expertise, regardless of background.