Here is another City Builders episode

Detroit's Renaissance Center....Rethinking an Icon.
the history. Part 1

After nearly 50 years as a major anchor and focal point on the Detroit River's edge in downtown Detroit, the Renaissance Center is undergoing a significant transformation. With over 5 million square feet, the complex, once home to one of the largest corporations in the world, General Motors, is moving toward a new and different future.

Come and join Mark and Dorian for a discussion about the history and future of the Renaissance center in Detroit, in 2 parts

Part 1 is about the history of the complex
Part 2 is about its potential future

NOTE: All photos shown in the video were taken by Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA except as noted. 2 images of the original Renaissance center concept, from early renderings, postcards, models, found in Google.

Aerial, plan site images credited here:
Google Earth

Join the City Builders, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the channel
@CityBuildersLog
____________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:
Mark Nickita, FAIA
President of Archive DS. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President of Archive DS. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.
They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the develop of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
____________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers" written and performed by Curtainwall
Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker-Guitars
Mike Gusway-Bass
Mark Nickita-Drums+Vocals
____________________________________________________________
Fair Use Disclaimer
The content shared on this channel may include copyrighted material used for commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, research, or education purposes. All such use falls under the guidelines of Fair Use under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 107). We do not claim ownership of any third-party images, video clips, or audio featured in this channel’s content. All rights remain with their respective owners.
Copyright ©︎ 2026 City Builders, Mark Nickita, Dorian Moore. All Rights Reserved

Here is another City Builders episode - Top 5 NFL stadiums!

Which NFL stadium is a strong asset to its home city?

Which NFL stadium has the best people-oriented experience??

Come and join Mark and Dorian on an in-depth discussion about the fan experience for an NFL stadium. Which ones are the most walkable and directly contribute to making their city greater. And which NFL stadiums.....are not to be mentioned

Mark and Dorian have some answers, some selections and some explanations.

Also - Please join the City Builders.....LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel

@CityBuildersLog __________________________________________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:

Mark Nickita, FAIA
President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.
They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the develop of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
__________________________________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers"
written and performed by Curtainwall

Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker - Guitars
Mike Gusway - Bass
Mark Nickita - Drums+Vocals

Here is another City Builders episode

Great architects and urban designers draw. They use pen and paper to develop ideas and communicate their designs and city building concepts.

Come and join Mark and Dorian on an in-depth discussion on the power, inspiration and passion of sketching.

NOTE: All sketches and written notes shown in the video were created by Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA except as noted by others architects.

sketches shown by other architects are from source material/books identified and credited here:

Book: Helmut Jahn, text by Nory Miller, Publisher - Rizzoli
Book: Michael Graves, Buildings and Projects 1982-1989, Publisher - Rizzoli
Book: Michael Graves, Buildings and Projects 1966-1981, Publisher - Rizzoli
Book: Places, Terry Farrell-Life and Work-early years to 1981, Publisher-Lawrence King Publishing, Ltd
Book: Richard Rogers Partnership, works and projects, Richard Burdett, Publisher- Monacelli Press
Book: Le Corbusier, Toward an Architecture, Jean-Louis Cohen, Publisher- Frances Lincoln Limited
Book: The City as a Tangled Bank, Terry Farrell, Publisher- AD Primer, Wiley
Book: Terry Farrell, Urban Design, Publisher- Academy Editions, Ernst & Sohn

Please join the City Builders, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel

@CityBuildersLog __________________________________________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:

Mark Nickita, FAIA
President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.
They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the develop of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
__________________________________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers"
written and performed by Curtainwall

Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker - Guitars
Mike Gusway - Bass
Mark Nickita - Drums+Vocals

Here is another City Builders episode

This episode is a GLOBAL URBAN STUDY (GUS), on-site, summary of observations and dialogue, from the partners at Archive DS, on a travel study to the United Kingdom.

Architects and urban designers, Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA discuss how the study and lessons learned from the observations and analysis of UK cities provide great insight into city building.

These global studies provide them information and direction in regards to ways that make cities better places for people, and guide their professional work.

Its a discussion about lessons learned and precedent, both good and not so good, and how the study of cities inform, inspire and assist to explain and direct our built environment.

Come and join Mark and Dorian on the 1st of many GLOBAL URBAN STUDY videos from around the world.

Please join the City Builders, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel

@CityBuildersLog
___________________________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:

Mark Nickita, FAIA
President, co-founder of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President, co-founder of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.
They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the develop of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and extensively consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
___________________________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers"
written and performed by Curtainwall

Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker - Guitars
Mike Gusway - Bass
Mark Nickita - Drums+Vocals

Here is another City Builders episode

This episode is focused around the explanation of the term "City Builders" and why the partners at Archive DS use it to describe themselves and what they do to help to make cities greater places for people.

Architects and urban designers, Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA discuss how city building is the complete way to make cities better.

Please join the City Builders, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel

@CityBuildersLog
___________________________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:

Mark Nickita, FAIA
President, co-founder of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President, co-founder of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.
They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the develop of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and extensively consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
___________________________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers"
written and performed by Curtainwall

Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker - Guitars
Mike Gusway - Bass
Mark Nickita - Drums+Vocals

here is another City Builders episode - the origin of Archive DS in Detroit

This is the history of the Detroit architectural and urban design firm, Archive DS.

Architect and urban designer, president and co-founder of Archive DS, Mark Nickita, FAIA, explains the history of the Detroit firm and its connection to Detroit.

In the late 1980,s, when countless businesses were leaving the city of Detroit for the suburban landscape and very few new businesses were opening or moving into the city, the Archive DS partners decided to bet on Detroit.

Archive DS was established in 1991 and opened an office in the core of the largely vacant and increasingly challenged downtown of Detroit.

As one of the only new architecture and design firms in the city, the partners developed a vision for the NEXT Detroit, a reborn great city, and set out to be one of the many lights to make that happen.

here is the beginning of that story........

Please join the City Builders, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel

@CityBuildersLog
___________________________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:

Mark Nickita, FAIA
President, co-founder of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President, co-founder of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.
They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the develop of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
___________________________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers"
written and performed by Curtainwall

Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker - Guitars
Mike Gusway - Bass
Mark Nickita - Drums+Vocals

This is the FIRST City Builders episode!!

it is an Introduction to the City Builders Podcast.

Architects and urban designers, Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA discuss the the new Channel/Podcast and discuss what is planned for the many episodes to come.

Please join the City Builders, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel

@CityBuildersLog
___________________________________________________________________________________________
City Builders hosts:

Mark Nickita, FAIA
President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Dorian Moore, FAIA
Vice President of Archive DS, Detroit + Toronto. Architects, Urban Designers, City Builders

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA lead Archive DS, a distinctly unique urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice. Archive DS travels the globe studying and documenting urban development for use in practice in cities around North America.
They are City Builders.

Archive DS [Design Studio] is an award-winning team of urban specialists focused on re-establishing post-industrial cities and urban sites, with a primary emphasis on the Lake Belt Region of North America. Through architecture, urban design, civic leadership, entrepreneurial activity, lecturing and global urban research, Archive DS has established a reputation as experts regarding the enhancement of the built environment and their various challenges.

The firm’s partners also serve as a resource on urban issues, as civic and professional leaders for local and national media outlets. Their professional experience has encompassed many aspects of city-making. These include major civic projects, adaptive reuse buildings, innovative mixed-use developments and historic renovations as well as the creation of design and economic strategies, urban visioning, and Placemaking, in addition to working as developers and the branding of projects and urban districts.

Mark Nickita, FAIA and Dorian Moore, FAIA are available to assist in the develop of building and urban design projects. They often team up with other firms and consult with development groups and municipalities. They have also presented and lectured for numerous groups on a variety of urban issues and topics throughout North America.

contact info:
www. ArchiveDS.com
info@ArchiveDS.com
313.963.6687
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Music for video Intro and Outro:
"Changers"
written and performed by Curtainwall

Curtainwall is:
Dave Baker - Guitars
Mike Gusway - Bass
Mark Nickita - Drums+Vocals