Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC)

Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) DCDC is a multidisciplinary, nonprofit design center based in the University of Detroit Mercy’s SACD

DCDC works with community partners citywide on a range of projects at different scales, prioritizing participation in the planning and design process with the belief that local expertise leads to the best ideas. Our services include: architectural design, landscape design, urban design, neighborhood planning, infrastructure strategy, community engagement, and small scale installation design. Conta

ct:

Christina Heximer, Co-Executive Director
[email protected]

Ceara O'Leary, Co-Executive Director
[email protected]

Happy Valentine’s day from the DCDC!! Here are just a few of our sweetest sentiments 💕 •••••••••
02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s day from the DCDC!! Here are just a few of our sweetest sentiments 💕









Mentoring and teaching is central to DCDC’s mission! Our staff is grateful every time we have the opportunity to lecture...
02/10/2026

Mentoring and teaching is central to DCDC’s mission! Our staff is grateful every time we have the opportunity to lecture or present our work. Check out some images of a recent lecture by our staff Juan and Julia! They shared the why, how, and what of participatory design to fourth year students at UDM’s School of Architecture and Community Development! Special thanks to Josh Budiongan for the invitation!! 🫂








02/07/2026

Emily, one of our Co-Ops, talks about GDA! If you’re a non-profit or community organization looking for FREE design solutions, apply for a Grassroots Design Access grant using the link in our bio and give us the chance to help bring your vision to life! 🎨🏛️








Grassroots Design Access 2026 is officially underway! Applications are open until March 2nd, 2026 at 11:59pm, LINK IN BI...
02/06/2026

Grassroots Design Access 2026 is officially underway! Applications are open until March 2nd, 2026 at 11:59pm, LINK IN BIO!!!
Or email us at: [email protected]

Grassroots Design Access is a DCDC program that seeks to partner design services with small to medium scale community-organized projects. This program is intended for community groups who have not received funding or other resources for design support. The program offers early design services as a form of community building for groups seeking to improve
the quality of life for their neighborhood’s people, spaces and places. 🌳🏠🏙️

Eligible projects may involve existing or new buildings to be used for community activities, initiatives, programs, etc. Projects may also involve an outdoor community space, garden, park space on vacant lots.

Apply now using the link in our bio!! Made possible by the Kresge Foundation.









Throwback Thursday to when we had a warm, energetic, familial gathering at Detroit Sip last December! DCDC hosted a plac...
02/05/2026

Throwback Thursday to when we had a warm, energetic, familial gathering at Detroit Sip last December! DCDC hosted a placemaking convening as a part of a larger placemaking initiative in partnership with Live6. This gathering brought together people across the city: artists, elders, community organizers, community developers, and MORE!

Attendees made connections outside of their typical networks and discussed themes such as: storytelling, fundraising, preserving culture, and healing from burnout. Comment below if you read this long caption and if you’d like placemaking convenings to be a regularly occuring event series!
📸:












The Que Blackout Theatre (  ) was a Grassroots Design Access (GDA) awardee in 2024. We partnered with RTTM Community Cen...
01/15/2026

The Que Blackout Theatre ( ) was a Grassroots Design Access (GDA) awardee in 2024. We partnered with RTTM Community Center to create a conceptual design for an existing building on Canton Street off Gratiot Ave. 🎭

After a series of community workshops and with invaluable input from the community, we have a conceptual design that features a theatre stage, recording studio, dance studio, computer labs, classrooms, offices, and more! 🏢💃💻

Please enjoy these select drawings and visualizations from the Que Blackout GDA project.











FUN NEWS!!! Did you know that DCDC had a project featured in the Venice Biennale this year?! A collaboration with  and  ...
12/02/2025

FUN NEWS!!! Did you know that DCDC had a project featured in the Venice Biennale this year?! A collaboration with and , the renovation of Avis and Elsmere is a beloved community space that was designed by community members and uplifts the local culture in stunning ways! Check out photos of the exhibit (designed and built by Marlon Blackwell) and other photos of Venice taken by our staff member Julia, who had the opportunity to visit earlier this year!

Join us at the Reflection Garden on campus Friday November 14th from 1-3pm for a Planting Day in partnership with NOMAS!...
11/12/2025

Join us at the Reflection Garden on campus Friday November 14th from 1-3pm for a Planting Day in partnership with NOMAS! 🌿🌱 There will be free donuts and cider as well as planting materials to use! We hope to see all our plant lovers out there 🌼🌱🍃









11/06/2025

TBT to the summer when we visited one of our FAVS on 6 Mile!! thanks so much for having us! ☕️🍂









11/05/2025

Love for the city ✔️ love for the pistons ✔️ love for urban agriculture ✔️✔️✔️✔️

Take a look at some of the murals that we LOVEEEE in the northwest Detroit area!! 🖼️ Because our office is located on 6 ...
10/30/2025

Take a look at some of the murals that we LOVEEEE in the northwest Detroit area!! 🖼️ Because our office is located on 6 mile and Livernois, we are blessed to be surrounded by these beautiful murals done by incredibly talented artists 🎨🖌️ Which one is your fav? 👀








10/27/2025

HAY, listen up!! Emily is going to tell you about her experience during a site walk for ‼️🐴 Giddy up and ride along with us while we envision this space with the community 😎🏇











Address

4001 W McNichols Road
Detroit, MI
48221

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13139931037

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC):

Share