Architectural Effort for Detroit Renewal?

[A2Mike]

Here are six important modern buildings, some completed, some still in construction or development: Liege, Belgium railway station by Santiago Calatrava, Disney Concert Hall [[LA) by Frank Gehry, an addition to the Tate Modern [[London) by de Meuron, a museum in Baden-Baden, Germany by Richard Meier, One World Trade Center [[NY) by Daniel Libeskind, and, just for fantasy's sake, the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by Adrian Smith.
Each of these buildings were conceived to be landmarks in their respective cities, intended both as major civic enhancements and attractions for visitors from around the world. Some are already fulfilling that purpose beyond expectations.
Detroit, of course, has the same objectives but there seems to be no explicit purpose in current redevelopment efforts to employ truly outstanding architecture, both to offset some terrible losses and to signal a newer and more hopeful identity for the city. Existing institutions, private and public, are capable of some degree of commitment, at an appropriate scale, to an architectural excellence that would make the rest of the world take notice of what Detroit can do and more readily accept the city as a desirable place to set up business, thus reinforcing the initial impetus and furthering it. Yes, the Kingdom Tower is fun to think of, but the proposed Red Wings development might be a good realistic starting point for our civic interest to make some positive input for an appropriately noteworthy outcome. to