Urban Retooling

During the middle of the 20th century, Urban renewal altered the shape and character of many American cities, fueled by economic context but resulting in great social significance and consequence. Today, in a time when the culture, government, economy, and environment are in a state of contentious uncertainty… How does architecture respond? What is the urban response, especially in the Middle American, middle size city, imprinted by Urban Renewal’s loaded history? Cities need revitalization, as in eras prior, to keep up with these ever changing times. Urban Retooling aspires to outfit downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan with a unique set of tools for operating/performing/existing in the emerging 21st century. Grand Rapids’ Urban Renewal district serves as the situational model for this thesis.