Engage
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ConnectUniversity of Detroit Mercy Detroit Collaborative Design Center
Christina Heximer
DCDC Co-Executive Director
she/her/hers
Services & Endorsements
Have you worked with them before?
References
Have you worked with University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Collaborative Design Center?
Your experience matters!
Nonprofit Experience Yes, I primarily work with nonprofits and/or community organizations | Years of Nonprofit Experience 20+ years |
Nonprofit Clients | Nonprofit Experience Board Member |
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Activate Fund -
Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD) Provider
Professional Affiliations / Licenses
Architecture license
Geographic Area
City of Detroit
Demographics of Provider
- Asian
- Black or African American
- White
Fees
- Hourly rate
- Not to exceed
Addional Pricing Information
DCDC’s typical fee structure is based on an hourly rate for different staff assigned to the project multiplied by the estimated number of hours each task will take for a specific project. The estimated number of hours for each task is based on past experience.
Mission Statement
The Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) is a nonprofit design center located in the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Architecture. DCDC provides high-quality and community-engaged design to neighborhoods in Detroit. We do this by engaging and promoting equity in design processes and outcomes. We work with non-profit 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.Why do you think it’s important for your business or organization to support nonprofits and community organizations in Southeast Michigan and what kind of positive impact do you think your work could have?
DCDC works with community groups and nonprofits across the city of Detroit and sometimes beyond. We work alongside our community partners to design engagement processes that inform and guide architecture, landscape and urban design strategies and spaces. We help community groups and nonprofits develop engagement methods for their work and facilitate a wide range of engagement strategies to ensure that resident and stakeholder voices impact neighborhood spaces, leading to more equitable and more locally responsive projects and processes. Planning and implementation of meaningful engagement can help community groups better respond to local needs and interests. Shared development of engagement strategies in turn equips community groups with increased capacity to lead engagement in the future. In terms of design, many community groups and nonprofits across the city do not have access to design services. DCDC works with neighborhood leaders to craft community engaged-design processes that result in spaces and plans rooted in place and driven by local voices. Our work is rooted in Detroit and surrounding areas, focused on the importance of place, relationships and community infrastructure.