Knight Foundation Invests in rootoftwo’s Civic Studio Vision in Detroit
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded $500,000 to rootoftwo, co-founded by Stamps Professor John Marshall and Cézanne Charles, to transform a decommissioned electrical substation in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood into The Transformer Building — a civic studio for participatory governance and design.
Building on their 2024 Knight New Work grant and successful collaborations with Michigan Central, the Detroit Cultural Center, and Design Core Detroit, rootoftwo will create a dynamic hub for civic tech labs, public workshops, and innovative public space programming. This catalytic investment anchors their nationally-recognized practice in a permanent home and directly supports Knight’s commitment to revitalizing public spaces and neighborhoods through civic engagement.
The award was announced as part of a series of new investments on Sunday, September 7, 2025 in a community celebration that marked the Knight Foundation’s $215 million-plus investment in Detroit over the last 25 years.
“Detroit has always been a city of resilience and reinvention,” said Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of Knight Foundation. “Our latest investments support a Detroit that will continue to be shaped by the creativity, talent and vision of its residents. Whether it’s transforming public spaces along the Joe Louis Greenway, expanding local residents’ economic power in tech or strengthening the city’s creative economy, these efforts reflect the energy of a city on its triumphant rise.”