Designing for Wellness, Building for Community in Novi

A long-view investment in civic life is beginning to take shape in the city of Novi, Michigan, where plans for the Connect Community Center signal a broader shift in how municipalities support health, recreation, and social connection across generations. Backed by a 20-year bond approved by voters in 2024, the project reflects a sustained commitment to public space as both infrastructure and invitation.

Set on the Civic Center Campus, the new Connect Community Center will expand the city’s existing Recreation Activities Center into a nearly 48,000-square-foot facility, designed to meet growing demand and evolving expectations. The vision brings together spaces for movement, learning, and gathering, with dedicated areas for older adults, flexible recreation programs, and an increased emphasis on nature-based education. Indoor pickleball courts, walking tracks, interactive exhibits, and expanded event spaces point to a model that treats wellness not as a program, but as a condition shaped by environment.

HED serves as a leading architect on the project, working alongside project partners to help translate the city’s ambitions into a cohesive, community-centered design. The work draws on a multidisciplinary approach, aligning architecture and engineering to support both day-to-day use and long-term adaptability.

When complete, the Connect Community Center will stand as a new civic anchor, calibrated to the rhythms and needs of a changing community.

The project was recently highlighted as part of the City of Novi’s State of the Union address, offering a closer look at the vision and its role within the city’s broader trajectory.

Watch the full address from The City of Novi here: https://youtu.be/n6MEvRQrGd4?si=WsS5GO9bHvHmyrwM&t=560