A historic 22-acre makeover along the Detroit Riverfront, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park redefines the city's relationship with its waterfront. The location, which was formerly an abandoned industrial site, has been transformed into a thriving public park that acts as a new municipal link between Detroit and the river.

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy held an international competition to choose Adjaye Associates and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) to lead the redevelopment.

The final design was created by a thorough community participation process after the victory to guarantee that the park captures the essence of Detroit and its citizens.

The program of the project includes a new waterfront park with comfort stations, pavilions for recreation and gathering, and plazas, promenades, gardens, and lawns. 

RCW at dusk Concrete

The landscape design of MVVA produces a resilient, year-round environment that honors nature, outdoor leisure, and social interaction. 

To promote year-round use and sustainability, their proposal incorporates play areas, flexible lawns, and green infrastructure.

The park's civic presence is anchored by the architectural efforts of Adjaye Associates. The William Davidson Sport House provides year-round recreation and shelter. It is a stunning building with a full-size basketball court under a sculpted concrete canopy. 

RCW at dusk Detail of supports

"The concept prioritizes adaptable spaces and future growth of the area, while enhancing connections between the city, park, and community throughout the evolution of the area," said David Adjaye. 

Adjaye Associates also built two comfort pavilions that offer adaptable community spaces and bathrooms. The main pavilion can change between open-air and enclosed configurations to meet programmatic and seasonal needs thanks to its flexible enclosure system.

RCW at dusk inside basketball court

When combined, these interventions create the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. As a popular tourist destination, Centennial Park creates a welcoming area that re-establishes Detroiters' connection to the riverfront's natural beauty.

The William Davidson Sport House is a 28,000-square-foot (260-square-metre) pavilion with a sculptural concrete roof supported by 33 steel columns and a large, roughly 2,000-square-foot (186-square-metre) skylight on top. 

The versatile indoor/outdoor pavilion, which has a full-size Detroit Pistons basketball court that is open day and night throughout the year, is flooded with natural light.

RCW at dusk inside basketball court

Following an extended period of public engagement, the final plan was created. nearly 800 people attended six significant public gatherings between 2018 and 2021. 

In addition, outreach initiatives like school programs, block club meetings, and exhibitions throughout the city reached nearly 5,000 inhabitants overall.

RCW at dusk inside basketball court

RCW at dusk inside basketball court

Image © Jaeyual Lee

RCW Park basketball court exterior. Image © Jaeyual Lee

RCW Park basketball court inside. Image © Jaeyual Lee

RCW drone shot. Image © John d Angelo

RCW drone shot. Image © John d Angelo

RCW inside basketball court. Image © John d Angelo

RCW overview. Image © John d Angelo

Image © John d Angelo

Image © John d Angelo

RCW Comfort Station roof plans

RCW David Adjaye sketch

Site plan

RCW Sports House elevations

RCW Sports House Elevations

RCW Sports House roof plan

The multicultural team at Adjaye Associates, which was founded in 2000, is inspired by the widest range of cultural discourse. The practice completed projects all across the world and has studios in New York, London, and Accra. 

Adjaye Associates' projects, which are renowned for their ability to provide a rich civic experience, vary in shape and style but are all connected by their capability to produce new typologies and make reference to a wide range of cultural histories.

The practice works all over the world and has studios in Accra, London, and New York. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), the practice's most famous commission to yet, opened on the National Mall in Washington, DC, in 2016 and won the New York Times' "Cultural Event of the Year" award.

Recently, Adjaye Associates, with Cooper Robertson as executive architect, completed the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York. In addition, the firm unveiled plans for the International Children's Cancer Research Centre in Ghana.

Project facts

Project name: William Davidson Sport House

Architect: Adjaye Associates

Landscape Architect: Michael Van Valenburgh Associates Inc

Architect of Record: Neumann/Smith Architecture

Size 

Park: 8.9 hectares / 22 acres 

Pavilion: 28,000 sq ft/ 2601 sqm

Lighting Design: Domingo Gonzalez Associates

Structural Engineer: Resurgent Engineering

Hydrology and River Ecology: LimnoTech

Civil Engineer: PEA Inc

Electrical Engineer: Peter Basso

Urban Design: Utile

Graphic Design: H Plus

Irrigation Design: WC3 Design

The top image in the article © John d Angelo.

All drawings © Adjaye Associates. 

All images © Ryan Southen unless otherwise stated. 

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Adjaye Associates basketball court Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates