Project overview: The 26-unit D2 building is a refined adaptation of a double-loaded corridor typology within Detroit’s redeveloped Brush Park. Once a 19th-century enclave of mansions and boulevards, the neighborhood declined through the 20th century and was largely vacant when the design team was invited to participate in its renewal. Now complete, City Modern honors Brush Park’s past while advancing efficient, sustainable urban living.
Situated at the neighborhood’s northern edge, D2’s design evolved through historic research, precedent studies, sketches, and 3D modeling. The four-story volume contrasts with adjacent townhomes, while an articulated façade with recessed balconies and window boxes echoes the nearby playful rooftops and enriches the streetscape. Innovation lay in materiality and efficiency. As a fully wood-framed building with full brick veneer, careful detailing managed differential movement. Efficiency was tackled programmatically as well. Larger units are laid out across two levels with an internal stair – a configuration that allows the corridor to be eliminated on the building’s topmost level, giving that square footage back to living space.
Meeting Historic District Commission guidelines while addressing economic and social drivers presented project challenges. The design responds with staggered setbacks that break down massing into vertical proportions, varied brick colors and textures, and projecting window surrounds for subtle complexity. Wood and metal accents provide contrast, while ground-floor stoops and landscaping engage pedestrians and activate the street. Ultimately, D2 balances context, efficiency, and livability – contributing to a development that restores Brush Park’s urban fabric while creating a modern, sustainable community.
Project location: Detroit, Michigan
Firm name: Merge Architects
Architect of Record: Merge Architects
Completion: 2024
Client: Bedrock Detroit
Jury comments: Smart twist on a double-loaded corridor and elegantly executed. D2 delivers high architectural quality for its scale, interpreting Brush Park’s historic character with articulated massing, rich brick detailing, and thoughtful proportions while feeling modern and efficient. Split-level upper units show genuine typological innovation, improving livability. Strong street activation through stoops, landscaping, and balconies elevates both the building and neighborhood. Great street frontage, well presented and articulated, though more interior images of units, entry, and communal spaces would strengthen the presentation.
Images/Photographer: Jason Keen General Contractor: Sachse Construction Structural: Engineered Structures Mechanical: AHA Engineers Electrical: ETS Engineering MP/FP: Sellinger Inc., Rosemary Pesce
