Author Archive

May 18 2012

“Empowered, Intentional, Bold:” TechTown Detroit, Michigan Values at Work

May 18th, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

Once home to the innovations of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company, American Electrical Heater Company and General Motors, the New Center area breathes new life into Detroit, Michigans’s entrepreneurial spirit. In April 2004, the partially-renovated Chevy Creative Services building designed by architect Albert Kahn, opened its doors to Detroit’s start-up community as TechOne. The TechTown [...]

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May 04 2012

Phase I Collaboration begins on Detroit, Michigan’s Bloody Run Creek

May 4th, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

Daylighting Detroit, Michigan’s Bloody Run Creek will be no small feat, but it’s a project that truly embodies a new and sustainable direction for the city. St. Louis developer, Richard Baron, has been pitching redevelopment ideas to Detroit since the 1980’s, but until now, nothing’s stuck. Flowing south, just east of downtown and into the [...]

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April 26 2012

Benefits of Blogging in a Down Economy: Developing Your “Career Portfolio”

April 26th, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

According to Huffpost Detroit, Michigan’s unemployment rate has dropped slightly to 8.8%, while Detroit is hovering at 19% unemployment. Conditions are grim.  Architects have been hard-hit by the recession, and unfortunately, our recovery is contingent on the vitality of other industries. When I returned to Michigan in fall 2011, my plan was to find work [...]

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April 12 2012

Social Media Networks Contribute to Detroit, Michigan’s Transformation

April 12th, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

Social media is changing the way we live, work, and play. Our networks are larger, our interests broader, and our opportunities more abundant than ever before. Thanks to this dynamic, digital infrastructure, Detroit, Michigan is making a comeback and gaining esteem as a city of possibility. The new direction is small and sustainable. There is a [...]

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March 29 2012

The Story of Demolition City: Detroit, Michigan

March 29th, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

In February 2012, I wrote a post called Assessing the Damage: Preserving Detroit, Michigan’s Historical Places, describing the delicate balance between restoration and demolition. Incorporating preservation efforts into Detroit Michigan’s priorities is vital, but there will always be the reality of budget cuts, insufficient public services, community needs, and generally, too little, too late. Detroit [...]

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March 15 2012

The Skinny on Business Card Design for Urban Planning Firms

March 15th, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

While social media is changing the way designers collaborate and connect, face-to-face networking is still an important step in gaining industry distinction. At roughly 3.5 inches by 2 inches, business cards carry significant influence in this networking process. As designers, urban planners are expected to make a statement with their business cards. What kind of [...]

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March 01 2012

Diamond in the Rough: The Positive Urban Planning Impact of American Baseball on Detroit, Michigan

March 1st, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

Opening day just five weeks away, Detroit Tiger’s fans are clawing to get back into their orange and navy blue. Baseball has always been considered America’s favorite pastime. For Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit,  four of the American League (AL)’s “Classic Eight,” the ballpark itself has been an important element of urban design and economic [...]

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February 16 2012

Featured Urban Planning and Urban Design Conferences of 2012

February 16th, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

Today, thanks to social media, innovative planning strategies and sustainable technologies are shared globally within the environmental design community. Are you part of that dialogue? If you’re reading The GRID, you’re off to a good start.  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are also valuable resources, but there is something to be said for attending these discussions [...]

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February 02 2012

Assessing the Damage: Preserving Detroit, Michigan’s Historical Places

February 2nd, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

Many agree, Detroit, Michigan requires restructuring, on a physical and political level, but the process is still unclear. From the Art Deco and Neo-Renaissance buildings of downtown, to the Tudors, Victorians, and Bungalows of Detroit’s diverse neighborhoods, the architecture tells a tale of the city’s rich and painful history. In order to save the city, Cityscape [...]

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January 19 2012

Attention Architects: 5 Reasons You Need a Free Website Review

January 19th, 2012Posted by Alexandria Stankovich

Are you an architecture student with a digital portfolio? Or an emerging professional seeking a client base? Or a designer with a growing architectural firm? If so, defining your brand and marketing your talents can be difficult. Fortunately, a free website review from Global Site Plans can help you build stronger industry distinction. Not quite convinced? Here [...]

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