This residential loft project essentially doubles the size of an existing brick mixed-use structure directly next door. The neighborhood is at Puritan and Dexter, not far the University of Detroit main campus at Six Mile Road and Livernois Avenue

The existing brick building had three storefronts with local shops and vendors. One of these storefronts was in direct alignment with oncoming traffic from Puritan. A number of drivers did not heed the traffic signal at this intersection and went careening directly into the third storefront. Ergo, that storefront was bricked in.

I chose to extend the building, replete with brickwork detailing, onto the next block north of the original building. However, the new addition would not be of bearing masonry, but a metal frame with a brick veneer, all supported by a steel structural system with compression and tension members.

The main level is 5,820 square feet of commercial space, with a coffee shop, a music store, a bookstore, and a restaurant. A covered plaza opens up for outdoor dining and hanging out. The upper two levels, 4,430 square feet each, contain loft style apartments, with common areas facing east. A large sculptural skylight illuminates the common area, as well as the plaza below.

This design was executed for the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, which produced design projects gratis for local community groups.