The Yard at Sam Hill:

Designing the Ultimate Outdoor Shindig

The Yard at Sam Hill reimagines history into a flexible backyard-style hub for dining, play, and community gatherings.

Location: Michigan, USA

Designer: Venture Designs

Year Completed: 2023

Industria 150 pavers in a linear black-and-grey layout at The Yard at Sam Hill, framing the outdoor stage and dining area.

Parks & Public Spaces

A Backyard That Works Like a Public Venue

The Yard at Sam Hill feels less like a restaurant and more like Ann Arbor’s backyard. Set on six acres of the old Honey Creek site, it’s a place where history gets reimagined into hangouts, from tailgates and trivia nights to family dinners under the lights.

Shipping containers turned bar, stage, and game zone frame the space, while Techo-Bloc’s clean-lined Industria pavers ground it all with style and strength. Around them, turf lawns, fire pits, shade sails, and string lights create a patchwork of spots to lounge, eat, and play. It’s outdoor entertaining reinvented: part community hub, part backyard party, and built to flex with every season.

Pedestrian Plaza

Residential/Pedestrian

ADA

Aerial view of Industria 150 pavers forming bold patterned walkways at The Yard at Sam Hill, integrated with green lawns and shaded seating zones.

The Challenge

A Social Space Built to Scale

Multi-Use Layout

The surface needed to support multiple outdoor programs: dining, events, walkways, and play areas — all while staying ADA-compliant and intuitive to navigate.

Visual Control

The layout had to introduce rhythm and zoning without overwhelming the space or clashing with lighting, signage, or seasonal décor.

Comfort & Ambiance

The design called for a surface that could reduce heat retention, provide safe footing for families and children, and contribute to a laid-back, inviting atmosphere.

Year-Round Performance

With Michigan’s freeze–thaw cycles and year-round events, the pavers had to hold alignment, resist surface wear, and stay visually consistent in all conditions.

The Solution

Industria 150 Series

To bring the outdoor concept to life, Venture Designs used Techo‑Bloc’s Industria 150 series. The modular paver was installed in a random modular pattern that introduced subtle texture and movement.

Engineered Durability

Withstands freeze–thaw cycles, de-icing salts, and constant pedestrian use in civic environments.

Dimensional precision

The 150 × 150 mm format allows refined layouts and mosaic transitions, ideal for complex events and dining areas. Compatible with larger modules, it ensures balanced scale in plazas and walkways.

HD² surface technology

Ensures superior color retention and resistance to wear over time.

Sustainable Design

The Industria Series align with industry standards toward Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs).

The Result

A Commercial Landscape Designed to Gather

The Yard at Sam Hill turns a standard restaurant lot into a flexible outdoor venue — one that shows how modern hardscape design can support programming, ambiance, and community in equal measure.

Explore Industria Solution

Industria 150 pavers in a modular black-and-grey design at The Yard at Sam Hill, connecting the dining terrace to the outdoor stage.

Gathering-First Design

The paver layout supports both scheduled events and casual hangouts, proving how intentional design can guide traffic while keeping the mood easygoing.

Industria 150 pavers forming a bold patterned pedestrian walkway at The Yard at Sam Hill, guiding foot traffic through the venue.

Visual Versatility

Mosaic-inspired patterns and modular pavers help delineate zones and direct movement without rigid boundaries — perfect for a space that flexes between day and night.

Industria 150 pavers in alternating tones at The Yard at Sam Hill, enhancing outdoor seating areas with geometric rhythm.

Long-term performance

With commercial pavers designed for climate resilience and daily use, The Yard is ready to host Ann Arbor’s next backyard shindig.

Quote from Designer

Fun, Functional, and Memorable

“The Yard at Sam Hill reflects our belief that hospitality spaces can be both fun and functional. This was about giving the community a place to return to — again and again — for everything from trivia to tailgates.”

Juna Durrant | Venture Designs

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