This year’s theme, Resilient by Design, honors the power of preservation to protect what matters and to build a stronger, more adaptable future.

In Metro Detroit—home to more than 200 municipalities—we’ll explore not only the city’s design legacy, but also what will endure in the wider region’s distinctive architecture and preservation efforts in places like Southfield, Dearborn, and the Grosse Pointes. These communities, shaped by the anchor of Detroit, have developed their own uniquely diverse identities, increased their quality of life, and deepened their sense of place.

Across Michigan, preservation is deeply connected to economic development, resilience, and cultural identity. Asset mapping, local planning, and community storytelling are tools that help historic places survive and thrive through uncertainty—whether it’s climate change, market disruptions, or contested public memory.