Responsive Landscapes Through Authentic Engagement: Lessons from the Detroit Collaborative Design Center

Zoom Webinar

As cities like Detroit confront climate change, aging infrastructure, and ever evolving community priorities, landscape design must become more collaborative, measurable, and data driven. In this webinar, the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) will give an in-depth look at their participatory, community-based approach that centers residents as co-creators.

Attendees will learn strategies for authentic collaborations, setting clear stakeholder objectives year over year, and building trust through inclusive communication. The webinar will examine community-informed site analysis methods, co-creation techniques, workshops, charrettes, and digital platforms that help DCDC build consensus and translate community insight into actionable solutions. Presenters will also touch on performance tracking and post-occupancy evaluations to ensure landscapes deliver long-term environmental and social impact. Through Detroit-based case studies and practical tips, this webinar demonstrates how participatory engagement and data-driven processes can shape equitable, responsive landscapes for the future.

DCDC is the 2025 recipient of the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) Founders’ Award. The multidisciplinary, nonprofit design center is based in the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Architecture and Community Development and is a leader in the field of public interest design. The webinar will begin with a brief award recognition.