The later half of the 20th century reshaped the image of Detroit with dilapidated structures, vacant plots of land, and struggling businesses. In the wake of this blight, government officials, professional planning groups, and community initiatives began to reassure hope for the city through small creative endeavors. In 2017, global tech industry titan, Amazon, announced its aspiration to erect a second headquarters in the United States. The headquarters was estimated to bring over 50,000 jobs and billions of dollars in capital investment. Detroit planners saw this as a potential catalyst for the re-invention of Detroit. In an attempt to stand out amongst hundreds of competing cities, Detroit offered to sell itself to Amazon, submitting complete control over policies, activities, and redevelopment operations. In 2018, Amazon accepted the offer and began rebuilding Detroit as a hyper-designed corporate campus that radically engaged the public realm. 

The new image of the city rejected automotive transit in favor of public transit and pedestrian movement. Amazon orchestrated the city’s redevelopment over several decades, concluding with EXPO 51, an international exhibition welcoming works of celebrity architects, exponentially increasing tourism, and ultimately giving Detroit a global presence.