Beyond the pragmatic aspects of creating a unified public space among diverse partners in Detroit’s cultural district, the Cultural Center Planning Initiative is a deliberate act of social and environmental repare. The guiding plan, an outcome of an intensive five year engagement process, builds on methodologies that combine sustainable urbanism, ecological resilience, and nature-based solutions, seeking to elevate the understanding of the socio-cultural and ecological dimensions of urban spaces. Its defining quality lies in its adaptable design process, which includes the development of a pedestrian square, a green band of multiple plazas, an ecotone for nature- based environmental management, and a necklace of small-scale pedestrian paths for interactions with plantings and arts overlay. These elements were calibrated to the individual needs of each institution through robust engagement, making the shared infrastructure compelling through customization.