SO – IL and OSD have designed a new waterfront district for Detroit’s Little Village. The marina overhaul, named Stanton Yards, will see the existing storage and service-based site transformed into a 13-acre cultural destination with 80,000 square feet of commercial and creative space, 85 boat slips, and waterfront parks.

SO – IL will lead the adaptive reuse of four existing pre-war industrial buildings, which historically housed a former theater, marina showrooms, service ships, and a navy shipyard used during World War II. Select demolition and the addition of “unifying elements and upgrades to accessibility” will create a campus for arts organizations, retail, artist studios, and hospitality.

“The ethos that 'new ideas must use old buildings' guides our transformation of Stanton Yards into a thriving, multifaceted community,” said Florian Idenburg, Co-founding Principal of SO – IL, about the scheme. “Our design ingrains four historic buildings with tactility and refinement while paying homage to the site's robust nautical character."

“Revitalizing these old structures catalyzes innovation and creativity, transforming the site into an incubator for fresh ideas," Idenburg added. “In the spaces between, we envision a platform for diverse community-focused programming. These buildings become more than just a backdrop; they emerge as integral components of an evolving urban landscape.”

Meanwhile, OSD will lead the design of a master plan and grounds for the 13-acre marina site, including a new waterfront restaurant and office building. The 13-acre site, once home to theatres and military warehouses alike, is designed from the outside in, merging nature, structures, and new buildings, seamlessly uniting the community with the waterfront,” said Simon David, Principal at OSD.