HISTORIC PRESERVATION CAMPAIGN
BRIEF: Quickly mobilize a grassroots effort to save the historic Belle Isle Boathouse, constructed in 1902 along the Detroit River and home to the second oldest rowing club in the United States, from demolition by the State of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources.
PARTNER: M. Potter & S. Malbeouf
BELLE ISLE BOATHOUSE
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Detroit Boat Club Crew has long called the Belle Isle Boathouse home. After the Department of Natural Resources unfairly seized the building, we needed to create an identity for the structure separate from the rowing club. We drew inspiration from iconic codes and colorways associated with rowing to reflect the timeless American heritage the Boathouse represents.
STRATEGY
Our goal was to educate the community about the Boathouse’s incredible history and galvanize support for its preservation. With zero budget and an impending deadline, we created a public Facebook page and Change.org petition to advocate for our cause. We also drafted a press release and pitched local media.
sUPPORT
Major letters of support, including one from a former Olympian, the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, and the Detroit City Council, provided meaningful context for why the boathouse should be saved.
EARNED MEDIA
We secured a primetime interview on WXYZ Channel 7 News, resulting in a surge of awareness in Southeastern Michigan.
