Innovation incubator
I would like to thank my office, Perkins+Will, for their generosity in providing an additional $1000 to expand my study area to Chicago and San Francisco. I will be visiting these locations between July and August to document what’s going on in their alleys.
Perkins+will is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year and plans to launch a brand new site in early July. The innovation incubator grant is a new program set up by the national leadership institute to facilitate the endeavors and pursuits of individuals within the office striving to better the built environment. The alley project was one of about twenty to receive funding in this first round.
Alleys of Seattle 
Hot damn! I am oh so happy for you! They definitely picked the right person.
Thanks Summer!
Hey Dan, its Jessica from NY/P.
I remembered seeing you got this award on fb, and I’m wondering if I could ask you for some advice. I’m working on a project for studio based in Detroit and alleys are a component of the precedent study. I’m curious if there are any resources or references you have used to do your research that you could share.
Congrats and thanks in advance!
Hi Jessica!
The next post I am actually working on right now will highlight all the written information out on alleys that I’ve come across including a couple books and links to research papers. It should be done within the next couple of days. What’s your project about?
-Dan
The actual design is a cultural center in downtown Detroit, with gallery spaces for the different ethnic communities in the city. Currently, we are working on a master plan to bridge the divide between the CBD and the residential districts which are divided by M-10 and possible create connections to the riverfront. The master plan has residential and office components as well as a new theater.
The precedence study is actually due on Friday (yep I still procrastinate) but I would definitely still be interested to see what you’ve found!
That is quite the choice picture, Mr. Dan