Imagine the excitement of a refreshing new beginning, even if it feels like a familiar echo from the past. On April 17, downtown Detroit will set the stage for another exciting milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cosm project, located just steps from the Rocket Companies Inc. headquarters in the striking One Campus Martius building near Campus Martius Park. This innovative venture is a collaborative effort led by Dan Gilbert’s Bedrock LLC, among others, marking the official launch of the Cosm live sports video dome and entertainment venue within the evolving Development at Cadillac Square (formerly known as Monroe Blocks).
This event sparks a sense of déjà vu as it marks the second groundbreaking for the impressive 3.66-acre site, the first having been celebrated back in December 2018. The forthcoming Cosm venue will span 65,000 square feet, featuring an awe-inspiring 87-foot high 12K+ LED dome paired with an adjacent high-resolution LED wall. This remarkable space is set to be the cornerstone of the long-awaited development, which has received an extension from the Downtown Development Authority to kickstart construction by May 1. Designed by the visionary team at Rossetti Inc., the project is anticipated to welcome guests as early as 2026.
In recent conversations, Bedrock CEO Kofi Bonner expressed enthusiasm for unveiling more detailed plans for the development in the near future. “Over the course of the year, we’ll be happy to start talking about how we’re beginning to really pull everything together so it feels like this urban, mixed-use development and entertainment piece we’ve been talking about,” Bonner shared, hinting at the exciting evolution of the urban space.
The current plans for the Development at Cadillac Square showcase a dynamic, multi-use vision that includes 250-280 stylish residential units, a refined office space of about 400,000 square feet, and 90,000 square feet dedicated to an array of retail, dining, and market experiences, which might even feature a new downtown grocery store. Additionally, the entertainment component of the project has evolved from the earlier concept of a 2,000-seat concert venue to the imaginative Cosm space, while still embracing the heritage of the iconic National Theatre façade—a cherished element that Bonner is committed to honoring with thoughtful architectural integration.
Cosm, already a success story with thriving venues in Los Angeles and Dallas, and another exciting location in Atlanta on the horizon, counts Dan Gilbert among its esteemed investors. Last year, Cosm celebrated raising over $250 million from influential figures including Steve Winn, the chairman, president, and CEO of RealPage Inc., alongside his Mirasol Capital, and new partners like Gilbert and others.
Keep an eye on this space—there’s much more to come as the vision for downtown Detroit’s transformative urban development unfolds.