The Metro: U-M Innovation Center in Detroit takes another step toward construction
The building, located between West Columbia and Elizabeth Street, will span 200,000 feet and have six floors.
A rendering of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation.
University of Michigan’s Board of Regents approved the design for the school’s Center for Innovation, opening in Detroit in 2027.
The school says the University of Michigan Center for Innovation (UMCI) and its programs hope to create jobs and economic development to propel the region forward.
UMCI Director Scott Shireman joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss what the project means for the university and the city of Detroit.
The building, located between West Columbia and Elizabeth Street, will span 200,000 feet and have six floors.
At the UMCI, students will be able to pursue a masters degree, Shireman says. Residents will also be able to earn certificates through workforce development programs.
Shireman says the UCMI will focus on “gateway certificates” – training that could lead to a career in high demand fields.
“These create a gateway for the typical Detroit resident who may have some or no college education, perhaps today they’re working in retail or a gig job,” Shireman said. “We want to provide a gateway for people like that, into entry-level jobs, in fields that have potentially lucrative career paths.”
Use the media player above to hear the full interview with UMCI Director Scott Shireman.
More headlines from The Metro on April 9:
- WDET’s Ryan Patrick Hooper spoke with filmmakers Hamoody Jaafar and Razi Jafri about their new film “Rouge,” premiering tomorrow night at the Freep Film Festival.
- WDET’s Stephen Henderson spoke with Breck Crandell, the director of design at Three Squared, Inc. The company is using technology to address the need for sustainable buildings.
- Detroit Demolition Week started Monday. The event is designed to give residents an opportunity to witness how a home demolition is done to address their potential concerns. The week-long initiative also includes two community events, and a job fair open to all licensed trades. WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley spoke with Detroit Demolitions Director LaJaun Counts to learn more.
- This month the Wolverine Bar Association will hold its 62nd annual Barristers Ball. Alexis Smith-Scott, board director for the Wolverine Bar Association and the current chair of the 2024 Barristers Ball, joined the show to discuss the upcoming event and the importance of Black representation in the profession.
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