Detroit School of Arts

Located in the city’s urban center, the Detroit School of Arts (DSA) is a progressive high school of choice, offering a dual-focus fine arts curriculum in the performing and media arts. The DSA brings an innovative educational approach to the Detroit Public School district, blending two separate fine art focuses within one dynamic and interactive learning environment. HAA provided architecture, site design and interior design services for the building.
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Architecture / Interior Design / Site Design / 2005

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The innovative design for the school was conceived and refined through close collaboration between all team members, user groups and DPS school officials."

The DSA combines the current Communications and Media Arts High School with the Detroit School for Performing Arts. The school houses the new Communications Production Center for Detroit Public Television (DPTV)—the local PBS affiliate—and a new radio facility for WDTR FM, the Detroit Public Schools’ radio station.

The six-story building features many unique academic, performance and production spaces, including an 800 seat auditorium, a 200 seat recital hall, a black box theatre, art studios and galleries, as well as vocal and instrumental music rehearsal rooms. The top-floor media center and dining hall spaces feature expansive views of the city’s downtown skyline. Throughout the design process, all aspects of the building, including a green roof and its complex systems were coordinated to achieve a truly integrated facility. As a result, the Detroit School of Arts was the first LEED certified building in the City of Detroit.

The innovative design for the school was conceived and refined through close collaboration between all team members, user groups and DPS school officials. Throughout the conceptual process, all aspects of the building, including a green roof and its complex systems, were well-planned and integrated to blend in with both the natural and built environments.

Disciplines

  • Architecture
  • Interior Design
  • Site Design

Type(s)

  • Academic

Services

  • Architecture
  • Construction Contract Administration
  • Cost Estimating
  • Interior Design
  • Landscape Architecture
  • LEED Certification
  • Programming
  • Site Design
  • Space Planning
  • Sustainable Design

Client

  • DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LOCATION

  • DETROIT, MI

AWARDS

  • THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITY PLANNERS INTERNATIONAL MICHIGAN CHAPTER - IMPACT ON LEARNING AWARD (2008)
  • ARCHITECTURAL RECORD - SCHOOLS OF THE 21ST CENTURY (2007)
  • MASONRY INSTITUTE OF MICHIGAN HONOR AWARD (2006)
  • THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITY PLANNERS INTERNATIONAL MICHIGAN CHAPTER - JOHN SHAW DESIGN AWARD (2006)
  • ENGINEERING SOCIETY OF DETROIT - HONOR AWARD (2006)
  • AIA DETROIT HONOR AWARD FOR A BUILDING (2005)
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MINORITY ARCHITECTS - PROFESSIONAL DESIGN AWARD (2005)
  • CONSTRUCTION COMMUNICATIONS - TOP PROJECT IN METRO DETROIT
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