Charles Cross, ASLA

Charles Cross, ASLA, is the Director of Landscape and Urban Design at the Detroit Collaborative Design Center and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture & Community Development (SACD). He serves as the faculty advisor to the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), and as an advisor to students in the Master of Community Development (MCD) program. Charles holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Western Michigan University, a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture and a Master of Urban Design degree from The City College of New York. He has experience in the public sector, having worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Michigan Department of Natural Resources as well as past private sector work with SmithGroup/JJR, Elizabeth Kennedy Landscape Architects and Mary Miss Studio. Charles is a 2018 Fulbright-Hays Fellow. 

Charles has been a guest critic, co-taught studio, lectured, and supported student projects at universities across the United Sates and Canada. His research interests include cultural asset mapping in African American, Afro Brazilian and Afro Cuban communities; the Midwest geography its role in the Underground Railroad, and the Detroit River as a threshold to freedom. Charles regularly contributes to the design profession through presentations, competition juries and lectures throughout North America. His work has been published and exhibited nation wide. He has facilitated design workshops, charrettes and planning engagement efforts with community stakeholders, faith based organizations and youth groups. 

Charles serves on multiple committees, boards and advisory councils. He has participated on panels with the Rose Center on Public Leadership/National League of Cities, the Mayors Institute for City Design and the Lincoln Institute Legacy Cities Community of Practice. He maintains memberships in the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Black Landscape architects Network and the National Organization of Minority Architects.  With a deep commitment to public interest design and social justice, Charles maintains a firm belief that underserved communities deserve good design, and therefore should be the patrons of a collaborative process-not just the consumers of the end product.  

contact: crossca@udmercy.edu