Placemaking

The redevelopment of the Lansing Community College Quadrangle establishes a significant connection between an assembly of energetic and diversified disciplines within the downtown campus. Working under the context of a unified campus vision, the LCC Quad presents an opportunity to increase pedestrian accessibility and improve circulation between the Gannon Building, Health and Human Services, Dart Auditorium, and the Arts and Sciences Building. INFORM The proposed materials and spaces define the Quad as a signature gateway and wayfinding component at the heart of the school. A new promenade signifies the transition between passive programming spaces intended for spontaneous gatherings and active programming that supports planned event... More

As the most significant public promenade in Turkey, Taksim Square has been the epicenter of several historic and cultural events since its formalized demarcation in the mid 1940’s. Considered the heart of modern Istanbul, the square has evolved into a significant tourist and leisure district; an activated hub supported by restaurants, shops, hotels and the central station for the Istanbul Metro network. However, several regions within the square lack cultural and social programming or suffer from isolation and mobility barriers that contribute to a disconnect within the square and the city as a whole. INFORM INFORM This proposal for Taksim Square offers a blend of the past & present, inviting questions about its history... More

INFORM Is developing a new pedestrian bridge over Meacham Road to connect future mixed-use and entertainment districts in Schaumburg, IL. INFORM More

Inspired by Midtown’s music, art, history, and culture, The Mid is poised to be a new center for Midtown Detroit activity. The 3.8-acre mixed-use development is carefully planned to offer diverse programs including retail, hotel, housing, and dining experiences with interwoven public spaces for community, resident, and visitor engagement and connectivity. The development will feature a 225-key luxury boutique hotel and 100,000 square feet of retail space, incorporating various selections from boutique neighborhood retailers catering both to the Midtown community as well as the residents and patrons within the development. INFORM INFORM The site design focuses on broader concepts of urban, social, and cultural sustainability... More

Over the last decade, Lawrence Technological University’s Southfield campus has increasingly admitted a student body desiring a more vibrant campus life experience; turning the once commuter school into a University with a more robust on-campus experience. Impacted strongly by LTU’s recent addition of varsity athletics as well as an influx of international students, student resident growth has created an immediate need for on-campus student housing options. This new 300+ bed residential flagship for the University is now leveraged during the recruitment of prospective students, while utilizing it to support the University’s many design programs and student-body social groups. Steve Kroodsma Steve Kroodsma Stev... More

The Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) hired INFORM Studio to develop a conceptual design for a riverwalk and pedestrian plaza on a two-block stretch along the Boardman/Ottaway River in downtown Traverse City. Currently the downtown retail and commercial buildings face away from the river, surface parking lots and concrete walls line areas along the river, and public access to the river is limited. Despite its prominent role in defining the trajectory of much of Traverse City’s past, the river’s place within the urban fabric of downtown Traverse City today is not well defined and feels disconnected. INFORM The Boardman Ottaway Downtown Riverfront will be a place for people to gather and interact with each o... More

The Nda-Nwendaaganag Bridge honors the Anishinaabe meaning ‘All My Relations’ to a precious place in the heart of Toronto. It exudes beauty in both form and symbolism, establishing a place significance for the history of all peoples and cultures in the region. INFORM Rendering INFORM Rendering Our project approach presents less of a bridge and more of an intervention weaving together an identity of placekeeping; creating a mosaic of rich narratives that braid the City of Tkaronto [original Haudenosaunee name for Toronto] back to the important heritage of this land, Mother Earth, taking time to learn from the Teachings as they are offered to help us to go forward together, in a Good Way. INFORM Rendering INFORM... More

The new public library is the result of a 2005 initiative to expand the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) system, which lead to four freestanding branch facilities for Ann Arbor’s school district. The Traverwood Branch serves as a community-based learning center primarily for the residents of northeast Ann Arbor. JGC JGC JGC Being across from the Sapp Nature Area – an 8.11 acre nature reserve adjacent to the site – the design strategy of the library was to serve the public and community, while also protecting and maintaining the existing ecosystems and biodiversity within and around the site. Situated on a heavily wooded 4 acre green-field site, the library is oriented to minimize its impact on the natural... More

Chroma is a collaborative center dedicated to advancing design, craft, and manufacturing while creating a shared community of neighborhood residents, entrepreneurs, and local businesses. John D Angelo The mixed-use project features the redevelopment and adaptive reuse of a historic storage building in Milwaukee Junction into production space anchored in food incubation, craft advocacy, design production, and co-working. It also provides events, mentorship, a music lab, a coffee shop, and a retail opportunity for local makers to showcase their work. John D Angelo This center is a manifestation of Detroit’s distinction as the first U.S. city named a UNESCO City of Design. The project honors the rich history of innovation in... More

The M1 Concourse is the world’s largest community of private car condominiums. The 87-acre campus provides car and racing enthusiasts a full‑service venue for an immersive experience. It is supported by a state-of-the-art 1.5 mile high-performance track, the M1 event center, restoration shops, aftermarket retail, and restaurants. Steve Kroodsma Steve Kroodsma The M1 Event Center’s design complements the style and speed presented in the adjacent M1 Champion Motor Speedway. The center was created to host a variety of events including vehicle launches, charitable event galas, fashion and lifestyle showcases, and significant automotive and technology expositions and has a 6,300sf ballroom and outdoor spaces including an u... More

The new A.B. Ford Park Community Center (formerly Lenox Center) marks a significant milestone as Detroit’s first climate-resilient public facility. Set within expansive parkland, the center enhances community access to the waterfront while boosting local economic opportunities. The project embodies the vibrant cultural heritage of the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood, reflecting residents' values through sustainable and resilient design. Steve Kroodsma   Design for resiliencyConstructed outside the floodplain, the center serves dual purposes as both a vibrant community hub and an emergency resilience facility. It is equipped to provide residents with essential shelter, renewable energy, and supplies during climate emergenci... More

The future Miami Baywalk connection in front of the cultural district exemplifies a preeminent opportunity to demonstrate sustainable and socially conscious leadership for our nation’s future infrastructure. The holistic design philosophy layers a profound set of solutions woven together to establish new transit connectivity for the City of Miami and heighten broad community access to ecology, science and the arts within a cultural center of the Biscayne Bay. The project has the potential to become both a local and international destination that will contribute to the cultural and economic engine of Miami. Caption The primary purpose of the project is to establish pedestrian continuity of the Baywalk under the MacArthur Causeway... More

The new Van Leesten Memorial Bridge reworks abandoned freeway infrastructure (I-195) to connect five prominent neighborhoods and institutions within the city. Acting as a pedestrian center, the pedestrian bridge not only performs as a practical connector between regions, but also offers multiple programmatic interventions to encourage community connection and social engagement among city residents. The project captures a potential much larger than that of a pure connector. It leverages integrated program elements to serve as a mediator between urban and ecological spaces, allowing east and west to become a singular public space. INFORM INFORM INFORM INFORM In addition to establishing a visual symbol of renewal, the Van... More

Overview UP42, an Airbus-backed geospatial data platform, needed a workspace that showcases its mission of making satellite and Earth observation data more accessible. Sentiform responded by creating an office branding and wayfinding system that draws on visual motifs found in satellite imagery—unifying both functional elements and aesthetic details under a single, geospatially driven concept. Sentiform   Challenge To convey UP42’s focus on simplifying geospatial data in a tangible way, Sentiform had to translate Earth observation visuals—commonly seen in satellite images—into a design language suitable for wayfinding and glass applications. The challenge lay in maintaining clarity for navigation and pr... More