Detroit’s innovation district is getting its housing piece. A 13-story, 313-unit residential tower at 2205 Cass Avenue will put students and faculty within walking distance of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation, the graduate campus rising nearby. Related Companies and Olympia Development of Michigan are developing it, with a groundbreaking set for early 2026.
Project Scope
The building is designed to serve the adjacent UM Center for Innovation, giving the new campus a residential base rather than scattering students across the metro. At 313 units it’s a mid-rise by big-city standards but a substantial add for a downtown Detroit block, and it folds into a broader Related and Olympia push to knit housing, academic space, and street-level activity into the District Detroit area around the arena.
Why It Matters
A graduate campus without nearby housing is a campus people commute to and leave. Pairing the UM Center for Innovation with a dedicated residential tower is what turns it into a district that’s occupied at night, not just during class. For Detroit, the project continues a long climb back for a downtown that emptied out for decades, and it ties a marquee university investment to the neighborhood instead of leaving it as an island.
Project Team & Details
| Developer | Related Companies / Olympia Development of Michigan |
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| Owner / Client | Related Companies / Olympia Development of Michigan |
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| Status | Under Construction |
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| Funding Source | Private |
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