A public-private initiative to redevelop the Detroit Cultural Center was honored with the prestigious “Partners in Progress” Award at the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. The project was designed by Taubman College’s Anya Sirota and her firm, Akoaki, in collaboration with the Paris-based landscape architecture practice Agence Ter.
Sirota, associate dean for academic initiatives and associate professor of architecture, accepted the award in October at the inaugural 2024 Bay Urban Visioning Awards, which celebrate pioneering urban initiatives that demonstrate visionary collaboration and long-term impact.
The Detroit Cultural Center Association’s award-winning project, the Cultural Center Planning Initiative, exemplifies the power of public-private collaboration. The initiative brings together 12 leading cultural institutions, local government, academia, and private partners to reimagine Detroit’s 83-acre cultural center. With a focus on sustainability, public space innovation, and digital connectivity, the initiative addresses critical challenges such as climate adaptation, social inclusion, and equitable access to technology.
Building on this collaborative momentum, the initiative is designed to actively engage residents from the City of Detroit and outlying counties through community workshops, design presentations, and public events. This commitment to public involvement ensures that all Detroiters play a central role in shaping the district’s future. 
“This recognition highlights the CCPI as more than just a collection of designed spaces — it represents a governance framework that brought together diverse partners around a shared vision,” said Sirota, lead architect of the project and founding principal of Detroit-based Akoaki. “Collaboration, though complex, was crucial in creating public spaces that reflect the values and aspirations of our community.”
The awards jury praised the initiative as “an ambitious, holistic, and transformational project” that showcases what can be achieved when diverse stakeholders unite around a shared vision. It highlighted the initiative’s role in reimagining Detroit’s future by promoting sustainable mobility and shifting away from car-dependent urban models.
