Progressive Prevention

Progressive Prevention

Enhancing Community + Hope

Anthony J. Hopkins Philadelphia University College of Architecture + The Built Environment Design X : Architectural Thesis Studio

Progressive Prevention Enhancing Community + Hope Anthony Hopkins Thesis presented to the Faculty of the Department of Architecture College of Architecture and the Built Environment Philadelphia University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of: BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE Thesis Research Faculty Thesis Studio Instructor Susan FrostĂŠn Academic Advisor David Kratzer Professional Advisor Brian Szymanik Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 2013

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For my family.

Without them I would have never learned to see the good in the world, and the potential for more.

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Homeless prevention strategies have evolved from outreach to inkeeping, however their is still a lack in focus with young adults and those exiting the foster care system. This demographic (age 18-24) has been included in the adult shelters and limits their advancements as adults.

The missing link in the scope of homeless prevention. The project will focus towards this group by giving them the chance for their transition from dependent to independent to be seamless and fluent. With options, users will be able to build their lives for themselves, rather than continuing down a road that leads to chronic homelessness.

Shelters are for emergencies; they are not homes. These homes will not only house, but prepare the users for their next chapter in their lives. In combination with providing affordable efficiency apartments to the adjacent community, the architecture will generate scalar relationships between both parties. By isolating services towards the young adults and implementing collaborative and prevention strategies, this in turn will decrease the overall homeless population in Philadelphia’s future.

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ABSTRACT

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CONTENTS Part I : Identification Position Document Thesis Objectives Investigative Methods Site Program Bibliography

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Part II : Solution Process Final Documentation Analysis + Reflection

93 99 159

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PART I : IDENTIFICATION During the research phase of the poject, the following text outlines the problem and potential solution that was set forth in the Fall 2012 preparatory course. Research methods led to a physical site and potential program for the design. Throughout the Spring, a design solution developed as an answer to the test:

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How can architecture inspire, support, and bring the story of progress + opportunity to life?

Position Document Thesis Objectives Investigative Methods Site Program Bibliography

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As a country, we are in a state of progression with our youth. College enrollment is up.

High school completion: rising. Juvenile crime: down. But in most recent years, the number of 1: Johnson, Steven. “We’re living the dream; we

Americans living in poverty is so high that unemployment is at its highest average in nearly 20

just don’t realize it - CNN.com.” CNN.com http://

years. This has led to more inequality in classes since the roaring 20’s.1 The sociology of a city

www.cnn.com/2012/11/24/opinion/johnson-prog-

has led us to a new experience, one where we don’t stop moving. And now, those children are

ress-overlooked/index.html (accessed November

struggling to make it on their own when they hit adulthood.

25, 2012).

Social urbanism as a concept will attempt to be a new solution for creating better neighborhoods and people. Starting with children and young adults, the project will focus on them as the client, and giving them the necessary resources and options to make their next goal possible. Given the criteria of the project, I saught out a severe problem that dealt with both ends of the social urbanism spectrum. One that affected all parties and was feasible to defeat.

Homelessness as a generator for the project became the main course of study in the

Thesis Prep course. Analyzing its factual information, the catalysts, and the prevention strategies that were currently attempting to combat the problem. However, it can be said that

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fighting homelessness is very difficult. Too difficult for some people that they push the problem away in an attempt to avoid it. As architects, we strive for improvement upon our world. Not only in built form but in a humanitarian form as well. In addition, most homeless people require one thing more than any other: hope.

Philadelphia’s homeless shelter system is made up of multiple organizations, funded by

numerous sources.2 Allocated funds for homeless prevention is then distributed to these numerous sources based on their strategies and progress. Organizations that have more developed, stronger prevention solutions will receive more in grants and funding to produce more. The problem with this system is that organizations then become lost in translation or are forced to close their doors.

The hypothesis includes a system or network that connects not only organzations, but architectural program in an effecient and closed loop manner. The project will act as a model for how shelters can work within their own system, in conjunction with existing urban fabric to not only better its users, but the adjacent neighborhoods.

Recent prevention solutions have been installed at a national level but left up to city adaptation. Housing First is a new program installed to homeless people with substance abuse or mental health issues.3 They grant private apartments to these people so they are given the opportunity to live on their own. It is a successful model in that it grants people independence, with private living quarters. However, they are giving these spaces to the severly chronic homeless.

Housing First focuses on leaving it up to the individual to make the change. The effort to give them temporary housing, without requiring treatment, is a risk and it is not safe to others, specifically the community. Chronically homeless people are struggling mentally and sometimes physically, and they need more than just “shelter�.

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The Federal Government’s Interagency Council on Homelessness is responsible for Housing First. It was also required that each city was required to instill a plan to prevent 4 ”Pathways: Housing First.”

homelessness.4 Even though cities have had different attitudes towards the homeless, it doesn’t replace the fact it is still a nationwide issue. The missing link is that it cannot be solved on an individual or segmented basis. Organizations can work together towards a common goal. Using each other as resources will only make homeless prevention stronger and smarter. In Boston, who has one of the largest homeless rates in the country, they are installing the Housing First program and is becoming somewhat of a success for the group they are seeking to help.

Jill Roncarati, member of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, tells the

story of her patient, Bill; a 59 year old Vietnam veteran, and an example of the faults within the Housing First program. He hasn’t slept in a bed for over 20 years, and suffers from chronic alcohol abuse. “Bill is smart, articulate, and insightful. A more recent traumatic head injury has left him with a seizure disorder that makes him vulnerable to falls and additional head trauma.”5 Being at risk for further mental disabilities, Bill was in more need of psychological help to reduce 5: Roncarati, Jill. “Homeless, Housed, and homeless again.” Sounding Board. www.bhchp.org/docu-

his alcoholism and prevent “loud outbursts” that would eventually lead him into housing court.6

ments/JillsoundingboardJAAP0608.pdf (accessed

Thanks to the Housing First and Homeless Plan in Boston, Bill was placed in this new program by

October 11, 2012).

meeting requirements such as: being homeless for at least six months, at high risk for mortality due to mental issues, and chronic substance abuse.7 Bill stayed in his own apartment, shopped for

6: Roncarati, Jill. “Homeless, Housed, and homeless again.”

groceries, and was able to meet with Jill once a week to discuss his progress. Bill’s progress was geared towards improving his sense of individuality and resourcefulness. As an intelligent man,

7: Roncarati, Jill. “Homeless, Housed, and homeless

this seemed feasible for Jill.

again.”

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Housing First was focused on housing people to give them initial shelter, however other

important factors were not considered in the same regard. Bill was driven to drink again due to his neighboring environment. In the seven months he spent in the complex, he endured many hardships that drove him back to his prior state. “A good friend died, and a man in the rooming house hung himself. Bill’s room was near a noisy porch where people gathered to smoke.”8 Such events would force Bill to exit the temporary housing system and enter a detoxification program that he didn’t

8: Roncarati, Jill. “Homeless, Housed, and homeless again.”

complete. Bill is currently back on the street.

Bill is an example of independence. He would organize his apartment, keep it clean .

Look to our Nation as it was declaring independence from Great Britain in the 1700s.

When all 13 colonies would meet in Philadelphia, there wasn’t a strong joint brotherhood.

Most representatives were concerned with issues at the state level.9 However, John Adams, from Virginia, would work diligently to define a new solution. To innovate an idea of pure

9: McCullough, David G.. John Adams. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.

independence, with declaring each “state” as individual levels of government, but all being united as one country. Adams faced apprehension and hesitancy from New York, and South Carolina plus many individuals that thought his unprecedented thinking was infeasible.10 He would promote the possibilities of liberty and freedom; two foundation bricks that lay in our country’s infrastructure.

We must always remember what made our country independent but also resourceful and

10: McCullough, David G.. John Adams. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.

dependent on each other. We offered a life of opportunity and the ability to pursuit happiness.

Our past has lacked transition into the modern world. We are different than before, with more problems and less solutions. Homelessness has been a problem for decades and will continue being a problem without appropriate solutions.

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We are different than before, with more problems and less solutions. Homelessness has been a problem for decades and will continue being a problem without appropriate solutions.

While focusing the study on sheltering the homeless, the possibility of multiple shelters

working together has come to surface. Multiple shelter restoration has evolved into restoring an entire city, which may become a model for other cities across the country. Beginning with 11: “Project H.O.M.E. Strategic Plan.” Project

Philadelphia, who is working towards defeating homelessness by 2015,11 their shelter system is

H.O.M.E.. www.projecthome.org/pdf/strate-

not a system, but dozens of individual answers that achieve what is necessary within their local

gic-plan-2011-2016.pdf (accessed September 28, 2012).

neighborhood.

By installing a network of varying homeless shelters throughout the city, design can begin

to influence a more effective answer. The project aims towards homeless prevention, accessible and affordable housing, while promoting independence of the user. By analyzing existing shelter structure at a macro scale to diagnose why the problem has continued to grow, this will prove why the lack of communication and collaboration between locations has not worked. A plan shall be installed; a master plan that brings them all together. Once a master plan network is created, the investigation will shift to smaller building scales that address the essential goals of the project.

As investigations evolve, the shelter wants to become architecture, rather than an oddity in a city.

The combination of a built environment and a master plan that will coincide with existing city and federal policies, the project strives to become the new model in prevention strategies and community engagement In Philadelphia, Project H.O.M.E. has become a visible strength in homeless prevention 12: “Project H.O.M.E. Strategic Plan.”

since 1988.12 It started with emergency winter shelters as an experiment. It was proposed that many men who lived on the streets for five years or more would be resistant to these emergency

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stations. However, the men came and embraced it, night after night. Emergency shelters evolved into transitional residences in the early 1990s, in conjunction with providing emergency hubs throughout the winter. Today, Project H.O.M.E. focuses their services and resources towards the following: housing, employment, medical, and education.12 In conjunction with Project H.O.M.E., Philadelphia has multiple organizations (401c3) that are privately funded and strive towards homeless prevention on their own. From individualized soup kitchens to large-scale city run shelters, there is a disconnect between the compartmentalized efforts and the collaborative efforts. The proposal of a network strives for efficient collaboration

11: “Project H.O.M.E. Strategic Plan.” Project H.O.M.E.. www.projecthome.org/pdf/strategic-plan-2011-2016.pdf (accessed September 28, 2012).

between “stations” (shelters) that work towards fighting homelessness by offering the effective resources to the people.

Project H.O.M.E., as mentioned before, is a very well established organization that

receives the bulk of the federal funding towards homeless prevention in Philadelphia. Originally funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)13, Project H.O.M.E. has continued to develop in a citywide prevention powerhouse.

Services that Project H.O.M.E. offers have made great progress in creating a standard for homeless prevention and integration within the urban fabric. Job placement in local communities has given people a new source of income. Education for adults at a new facility with computers and interactive learning stations makes finding a job or training more manageable. Housing jumps in multiple scales to offer individuals and families equal hierarchy. All these things make up their progression but there is still a missing focus that is a large opportunity for homeless prevention at an earlier stage.

12: “Project H.O.M.E. Strategic Plan.”

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Nearly half of the United States foster child population will become homeless when 14: SMITH, CAROL. “A growing problem: Fresh out

they turn 18.14 In turn, three out of 10 homeless Americans were in the foster care system. This

of foster care and homeless - seattlepi.com.” Seat-

correlation between foster care and homelessness directs the hypothesis towards filling the void

tle news, sports, events, entertainment | seattlepi. com - seattlepi.com. http://www.seattlepi.com/

in the Philadelphia homeless prevention system, ages 18-24. Other negative affects such as

local/article/A-growing-problem-Fresh-out-of-

incarceration, suicide, growing mental issues, and lack of education gives enough justice to focus

foster-care-and-886284.php (accessed November

on this age group.15 Currently Project H.O.M.E. does not address the foster care system as a

9, 2012).

direct connection to homelessness.

The plan of the project is to give these young adults the proper resources and inspiration

15: SMITH, CAROL. “A growing problem: Fresh out

so that they do not live a life of chronic homelessness in their future. By installing architecture

of foster care and homeless - seattlepi.com.”

that betters them and the community, it has the opportunity to do both at the same time. Social urbanism will affect both parties positively and creating better spaces in our city.

The term “social urbanism” is a conjunction of its two equal topics, “social” and

“urbanism”. Throughout my study, I have learned that when they are disconnected, a neighborhood leads to posess negative traits. Poverty, crime, and a lack of education are just a few of the numerous problems some Philadelphia neighborhoods have. When examining a site for the project, it had to have those negative qualities as an opportunity to better, and also an attitude that would accept this type of project. Francisville was that neighborhood.

With focus on the grand scale of shelters for research, the second phase of the project

requires a specific site for architecture. Once selected, it is available to test. The Francisville site 16

See pages 54-59

at the corner of 19th and Wylie is the first test.16 With over 200,000 square feet, and almost 40% of it being available for new development, the project had to scale to a specific goal and list of objectives that met the existing criteria of space.

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The main objective of this project is to install hope. Given the oppotunity to select my own project is overwhelming but exciting. I took this opportunity to test my skills in community betterment and my philosophy of “doing good with design�. My plan for the second phase of thesis is to continue to develop the project into a more cohesive proposal of architecture. The topic of homelessness is so broad and complex that it was vital to chose a specific to test. That test will occur in phase two. However, the required data and analysis that the proposal required is now complete. The next step(s) will continue to shape my perspective on design and helping others. I hope the project will take shape and gives others the belief that we can design better lives, for all.

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Position Document Thesis Objectives Investigative Methods Site Program Bibliography

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Collaboratively identifying the objectives that Philadelphia holds in terms of ending homelessness and the goals of the thesis, Progressive Prevention saught to solve a real problem with architecture.

These 10 goals were all generators in the thesis statement.

1. Open the “back door”

provide Philadelphians with affordable, accessible housing 2. Close the “front door”

install successful homeless prevention strategies 3. Getting them off the street

make sure nobody needs to live unsheltered 4. Fully integrate health and safety

behavorial and physical health service 5. Change the perspective

create the politcal will, civic, public and private resources 6. More jobs

employment preparation and training at a livable wage 7. Independence

support individuals and families to promote long term inderpendce.

8. Build trust and relationships

generate friendships and bonds 9. Be visible, but safe

ability for the community and the users to interact 10. Progress

install the necessary support services that will move users forward

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Throughout the semester of the Thesis Prep course, different areas of research were conducted as the topic of study evolved.

This chapter documents the relevant investigations that have pushed the argument and position forward. For tangents and outtakes, see appendix.

A. Case Study Research

B. Action Research

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Position Document Thesis Objectives Investigative Methods Site Program Bibliography

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CASE STUDY RESEARCH Case study research was required to learn and investigate similar studies relating to the topic of youth homeless prevention.

What came out from these studies were qualitative aspects that the thesis will emulate. The program of each case study vary and offer a concept or idea that is important to the project as a whole. Those concepts found their way into the visual play and response section, along with initial groundwork for conceptual idealogy.

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Connelly House - BWA Project H.O.M.E. + Bethedsa Project Philadelphia, PA Opened in 2010, the Connelly House became the first LEED certified affordable housing facility in Philadelphia. The 8-story, 64,000 square foot transitional housing project contains 79 units, communal spaces, supportive services office and conference spaces. Given the exisiting neighbors (PSFS and the Wanamaker), materiality and the quality of the building’s language were important considerations to the design.

Connelly House is successful in their connection with the exisitng urban conditions and revisions to lower quality spaces. Connelly House is currently the only permanent residence building in Philadelphia for post homeless users.

exterior

lobby view

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green roof

communal space

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interior looking over green

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Children’s Library Discovery Center - 1100 Architects Queens Central Library Jamaica, NY

street presence

An inital phase of a masterplan for the revitalization of the Queens Central Library in Jamaica, NY. The CLDC is a two-story addition to the library that focuses on youth engagement, collaboration, and education. The facade is composed of multiple types of glass that portray the building’s visibility as a cultural center and social destination. The qualities of the space and program are vital to the concept of engagement and focus. By providing new and exciting spaces, this will in turn inspire children to interact with each other and themselves.

interior

exterior

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lobby

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technology space

collaboration areas

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The Bridge | Homeless Assistance Center - Overland Partners Dallas, TX Being named the “world’s model for homeless center design”, The Bridge proves that architecture does exist within shelter like programs. The buiding has a multi use program focusing on providing all types of care. The 75,000 structure can assist up to 6,000 people. The architecture exists within the open pavillion and plaza that pulls the three service buildings together.

Also, the integration of the exterior garden and interior spaces is an additional quality to what makes The Bridge a beautiful and efficient piece of architecture.

translucency

exterior

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courtyard vignette

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exterior beacon

private space

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Case Study Highlights

communal spaces, supportive services conference spaces connection with the exisitng urban conditions revitalization youth engagement collaboration, and education visibility social destination. inspire multi use program open pavillion and plaza integration of the exterior garden and interior spaces

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ACTION RESEARCH The topic of homelessness contains dozens of research categories. In order to understand the problem as a whole, research began broad and would then filter to the specific topic pertaining to the thesis. This section contains all relevant research such as statistics, diagrams, and visual play.

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Mind Map drawing to get the ideas out and the plan in place. A preliminary sketch while the thesis was developing.

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Once research began, a Core Literature Review would organize the texts and find overlaps.

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VISUAL PLAY This section displays the relevant diagrams, collages, and other supportive drawings that evolved the thesis during the preparatory course.

From digital models, field study, and representative sketches - the play aspect allowed me to take risks in the design identification process.

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Loss of Identity

Highlight the problem

Discover the opportunity

SITE As the project became more clear on its intent, site location became the next challenge. Analyzing multiple large scale cities across the country that had high rates of homelessness was not the main subject of research. In fact, the chosen site of Philadelphia isn’t even within the top 10 highest homeless populated cities in the United States. Philadelphia is the chosen site for the thesis due to its scale of the problem.

In addition, their objectives as a city and how they run parallel with the objectives of the thesis. More in depth explanations of specifics fall within the following explorations and analysis.

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Position Document Thesis Objectives Investigative Methods Site Program Bibliography

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Francisville Philadelphia, PA

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Neighborhood Facts • • • • • •

Population = 4,474 Area = 0.299 square miles Median age for both male and female averages 6 years younger than Philadelphia as a whole Male: 28 | Female: 30 34.8% of population lives below the poverty level 21.5% of population currently enrolled in K-12 education

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# of Residents

Age Distribution in Francisville

Age Men Women

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Displaying a younger community in the Francisville neighborhood, it becomes an opportunistic site for the young adult demographic that the project looks for. With a child growth in the neighborhood over the next generation, Francisville can benefit largely from the installation of a youth engagement center and prevention clinic. Being a poverty stricken community, homelessness becomes eminent for some. But in addition to homelessness, both education and health are largely affected by poverty. Therefore, the age of interception and location will be ages 18-24, with other youth services intermixed within the program.

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Affordable + Accessible Housing This map summarizes place-based (rather than programmatic) investments in housing for disadvantaged populations. Data sources include HUD, DCED, USDA, and the Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund. Notice the border of one of the most dense affordable housing projects in the city and that the site lies right on the perimeter between Francisville and Fairmount.

Macro Data

68 *data supplied via DVRPC_Comumunity Investment

Micro Data

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Vehicular vs. Pedstrian Density Shows the unbalance of vehicular traffic and the equality in pedestrian traffic surrounding the site. Bordered by Broad St, Ridge Ave, and Fairmount Ave, the site still lacks any sort of recognition or sense of place. Given the amount of pedestrian density, it proves the scale needs to be relatable to the human rather than the car.

Vehicular

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Pedestrian

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Community + Economic Development Maps display both the macro and micro data of community projects of certain incentive and investments. The tone of each color relates to the density of beneficial projects promoting local economic growth. Notice the high levels located just North East of city hall (museum district) and in University City. Other areas contain a gap between neighborhoods - Francisville and Fairmount being one of many. This shows the potential for growth between the two neighborhoods and its need for a economic boosting program.

Macro Data

72 *data supplied via DVRPC_Comumunity Investment

Micro Data

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Existing Shelters

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Existing homeless shelters in Philadelphia work mostly as independent treatment and support centers. The city has made great strides with homeless prevention and outreach given their funding from HUD, the ARRA, generous donations and more. Project H.O.M.E. has shelters accomodating all aspects of living situations. Whether its a women’s only shelter, or a wet facility, or one that distributes medication. The term “shelter� begins to have a stereotype that influence people, even the homeless, to avoid these shelters. When searching for the exact site, I knew it had to have a special trait that would be the first step in answering the test.

The Opportunity Scope focuses into the heart of the city. Inspiring, engaging, and influential.

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Opportunity Scope

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Interception

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Addressing the most needy group, but also the most promising. The project focuses on making the required options and resources readily available for newly established adults. With sensitivity towards independence and self sufficiency, the user will be given opportunities to succeed on his or her own. Someone’s past shall no longer dictate what their lives should progress towards, however this interception point yields a future that the individual has in their control.

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Position Document Thesis Objectives Investigative Methods Site Program Bibliography

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A youth engagement center is an initial title for the program of the project. This center will house four components (right) in a connected system that will allow for maximum collaboration and ease of use. This resource will take advantage of the “new development� site [pg. 53] and a revitalization project will occur on the adjacent recreation site.

With focus towards social urbanism, the project will not be invisible nor closed off to the community. It is vital for engagement of the users of the building to interact with the Francisville community. The quality of the program will strive to function within the urban fabric as a seamless connection. Park spaces, gardens, cafes, etc. are all components of social urbanism and its importance to a neighborhood such as Francisville.

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housing

education

outreach

engagement

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Quality of Space

Welcoming - All should feel comfortable approaching the site Available - No one in need of a bed should struggle to find one Encouraging - Support through architecture and design Educational - Job Skills, Life Schools, or help obtaining a GED Healthy - Food service promoting health Life Changing - Options for users to manipulate their future for the better The project wants to do all of this. Exisiting homeless shelters may lose their ability or necessity to possess these qualities.

Whether due to lack of resources, funding, or involvement within the shelter, locations are closing throughout the city to make way for Philadelphia’s new plan:

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Case Study Highlights

communal spaces, supportive services conference spaces connection with the exisitng urban conditions revitalization youth engagement collaboration, and education visibility social destination. inspire multi use program open pavillion and plaza integration of the exterior garden and interior spaces

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Position Document Thesis Objectives Investigative Methods Site Program Bibliography

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Badger, Emily. “How High Design Can Help the Homeless - Housing - The Atlantic Cities.” The Atlantic Cities. http://www.theatlanticcities. com/housing/2012/06/how-high-design-can-help-homeless/2295/ (accessed August 19, 2012).

Brown, David J., and Steven Badanes. 2004. The HOME House Project: the future of affordable housing. Winston Salem: Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. Burt, Martha R. 2001. Helping America’s homeless: emergency shelter or affordable housing? Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute Press.

Davis, Sam. Designing for the Homeless: Architecture That Works. Berkeley: University of California, 2004. Print.

Graham, John R., Christine Ann. Walsh, and Beverly A. Sandalack. Homeless Shelter Design: Considerations for Shaping Shelters and the Public Realm. Calgary: Detselig Enterprises, 2008. Print.

Johnson, Steven. “We’re living the dream; we just don’t realize it - CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/24/opinion/johnson-progressoverlooked/index.html (accessed November 25, 2012).

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McCullough, David G.. John Adams. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.

Roncarati, Jill. “Homeless, Housed, and homeless again.” Sounding Board. www.bhchp.org/documents/JillsoundingboardJAAP0608.pdf (accessed October 11, 2012).

Seider, Scott. Shelter: Where Harvard Meets the Homeless. New York: Continuum, 2010. Print.

Smith, Carol. “A growing problem: Fresh out of foster care and homeless - seattlepi.com.” Seattle news, sports, events, entertainment | seattlepi.com - seattlepi.com. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/A-growing-problem-Fresh-out-of-foster-care-and-886284.php (accessed November 9, 2012).

Wasserman, Jason Adam, and Jeffrey M. Clair. 2010. At home on the street: people, poverty, and a hidden culture of homelessness.

Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

“Philadelphia Homeless Shelters and Services - Philadelphia PA Homeless Shelters http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/city. cgi?city=Philadelphia&state=PA (accessed September 22, 2012). ”Pathways: Housing First.” Pathways to Housing. www.pathwaystohousing.org/files/Annual_Report_2011.pdf (accessed September 24, 2012).

“Project H.O.M.E. - Our History: A Decade Of Effective Solutions.” Project H.O.M.E. - Ending Homelessness in Philadelphia. http://www. projecthome.org/about/history.php (accessed October 11, 2012).

“Project H.O.M.E. Strategic Plan.” Project H.O.M.E.. www.projecthome.org/pdf/strategic-plan-2011-2016.pdf (accessed September 28, 2012).

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PART II : SOLUTION Throughout the Spring, the process was to derive and execute a thesis. A proposal for a better system and a better city.

Thesis Statement Through the creation of scalar internal and external communities that support emancipated foster children, their anticipated future of chronic homeless will be avoided.

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Process Final Documentation Analysis + Reflection

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PROCESS It all started with a fact. To the right, a diagram outlines the first 18 months of emancipation from the foster system. Children enrolled in the system in Philadelphia tally over 4,200. Every year a percentage of that group is emancipated or “age out� from the system. At that time, the age of 18, young adults are now enrolled into full adulthood and independence. Within those first 18 months of leaving the system the statistics break down as follows:

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75% will not have a high school diploma 33% are likely to be incarcerated due to drug trafficing, prostitution, and other crimes 25% will experience some class of homelessness

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This visual displays “expectations” of a typical 18 year old American teenager. Overwhelmed with pressures that can affect one mentally and physically. It can be argued that the young adults in this project don’t have to think about these things so often, strictly because they may seem out of reach and intangible. The design program must be able to emphasize these four components of transitional life within the living experience.

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+ Occupation + Home + Friendships + Education

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FINAL DOCUMENTATION In this section you will find final production components:

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+ Diagrams + Drawings + Photographs + Renderings + Models

Process Final Documentation Analysis + Reflection

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JOY

SCALE ENGAGEMENT SENSITIVITY

RELATIONSHIPS 100

RESPONSIBILITY AWARENESS

the test _ how can architecture inspire, support, and bring the story of progress + opportunity to life?

COMPONENTS INFLUENCES 101

Affordable Housing qualifications inspired the project to focus on Single Room Occupancy (SRO) apartments and Double Efficiency Apartments (EFF). By starting with the component and module - the architecture reflected a community building infrastructure, inside and out.

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COMPONENTS

SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANT conventional

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SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANT conventional +structure creates boundaries

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The critique of typical SRO housing deals with a lack of engagement spaces. The only space for users to engage are in there to and from circulation within a corridor. Historically, the double loaded corridor provides an efficient solution to housing, using corridors every three floors. However given the scale of the project and goal of providing scalar communities, every aspect of the space had to be delicately treated.

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SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANT conventional +structure creates boundaries +restricts interaction from neighbor

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SCALE

The following proposed plan displays a shared space and community growth zone between the tenants of the SRO wing.

Every other module becomes a void. It then allows for an opportunity of engagement. It represents the current void in homeless prevention. Instead of filling it with services, the aim was to fill it with happiness, bonds, and trust. This in turn building the first, smallest, and most important relationship.

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SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANT proposed

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SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANT proposed +walls form shared bathroom

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SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANT proposed +walls form shared bathroom +structure creates regulation

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SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANT proposed +walls form shared bathroom +structure creates regulation +void space brings engagement opportunity

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RELATIONSHIPS

The final component that will achieve the engagement component across the project. From personal relationships to architectural relationships, this concept focuses on breaking back barriers and discovering the potential opportunity for progressive change.

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Rowhome Typology

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Barriers

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Opportunity

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Potential

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The components were put into place - but the final challenge of the macro relationship had to be addressed. In the project, the two types of housing support residents of the foster care system and low income individuals in the Francisville and neighboring communities. The question: what happens when they meet?

Conceptually, the relationship one has with another will give him a sense of belong. Natural comfortability and being yourself is one of the first steps to becoming an individual. By putting in a community infrastrucutre that allows interaction between both parties and the exterior community, it will generate a macro relationship such as a neighborhood.

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the method

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SCALE

COMPONENTS RELATIONSHIPS

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COMPONENTS BUILD SCALAR RELATIONSHIPS

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Concept and Study models played a vital role to the thesis. By expressing ideas such as interaction, module design, and interweaving. The project was able to develop in three dimensions with the aid of the following models.

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Overlapping - Blurring Transparency Study

A digital model study of intersection and overlapping forms that led to the concept of transparency. In homeless prevention organizations such as Project H.O.M.E. there is an emphasis on being “visible”. This means that a home like this one wouldn’t become a place to point at and recognize, it would be a place of destination. One that is known to all and still feels safe and correct.

This concept led to multiple interior and exterior urban design moves that would emphasize interaction of diferent ages, races, and social classes. While also informing the building’s materialtity and tectonics - being visible but transparent.

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Ground

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ANALYSIS + REFLECTION The following text displays my thoughts synthesizing the full year of work. Assessing the thesis intent, results, and next steps.

Process Final Documentation Analysis + Reflection

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In April 2012 the request for a Thesis proposal was distributed to the entire rising 5th

year BArch community. I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to do it, but it was more about what I would do with it. The opportunity for conducting one’s own research and practicing one’s own process is a design strategy that I may never be able to perform again in my life. This was the first try and I feel that I progressively advanced as a designer and a person. I learned that in order for something to be successful, it needs to be thought of in every perspective. From each scale of the project, I attempted to observe and analyze so that the proposal would fit, it would make sense, and it may happen to rest on the corner of 19th and Wylie one day.

I was introduced to the site over three years ago during an earlier studio project.

Someone told me that we all have good ideas, but the great ones are the ideas that continue to evolve without our recognition. This project was made for that site, and vice versa. Every time I pass this open field I will get the chills because I can envision this project breathing on the site.

I hope my explanation of the “opportunity scope” will only inspire people to visit this site and attempt to see what I saw last year. It’s dormant landscape pleads for a sensitive architectural expression that will bring goodness to the city of Philadelphia. I will do my best to fulfill this idea and not let something else replace the idea.

The entire process was challenging, but equally rewarding. When I was able to stand up

in front of others and share what I believed is a difference and real change – I felt that others believed in me. It’s hard to take students seriously during critiques sometimes, but every time I would discuss my slides I wanted everyone to know of my intent of this project:

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Let’s build this thing.

The thesis was not solely about the building. As mentioned in my final presentation on May

4th, I said that “architecture is more than buildings”. I’ll stand behind that statement because our built environment will always shape the way we live and act. The act of sitting on a bench watching kids play on the basketball court – that’s architecture. The conversation two elderly women have about the new landscaping done in a plaza – that’s architecture. Building relationships and trust within a supportive house setting that aims to end homeless – that’s architecture.

A beautiful solution to problems, that’s what architects are best at. We really can change

this world if we want to. This entire year I was ambitious and hopeful that someone would agree with me or tell me those same things. I know however that people believe in this project. They believe that with more time it can evolve into something that works. My next steps are exactly that.

Throughout the spring semester of design studio, I wasn’t able to focus much on the macro community. I spent a lot of time understand micro relationships and efficient design of affordable housing units. Thus the exterior plaza and site conditions fell a little short. However, given the critique and comments from the final review, along with my personal interest in urban design, I strive to achieve the same sensibility and rigor on the exterior as the interior.

Potential is my goal. All I can do at this point is hope somebody else can see the great

potential that I feel my idea has. Until then, I’ll keep pushing and seeking out. The most rewarding experience for me was this past year, culminating all my knowledge throughout my undergraduate career. I’m ready to take the next steps in my career.

I know that this is what I want to do.

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Thank you to all the minds and support that I’ve encountered with the past year. Without all of you, I would have never gotten to where I am today. I hope you enjoyed Progressive Prevention. Next time you are in North Philly, turn around and take a picture of downtown. You’ll see.

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