KAART
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Kentucky Appalachian Assistive Rehabilitation and Technology
CREATING SYMBIOTIC SPACES The site will be situated in the Hazard Village Shopping Center in Hazard, Kentucky. The proposed KAART Center will be in the vacant 9,000 square foot space immediately adjacent to the United Grocery Outlet. The main entrance will be located in the front of the building and front façade fenestrations are to be specified. The space includes no existing windows, and four non-movable round steel columns situated approximately 30-feet apart line the center of the space and reach to exposed HVAC and structural ceiling. The mechanical room is situated in the rear of the space and is to remain as is.
The proposed design outcome will bring new, innovative, and upgraded services to the Hazard community, setting new standards for medical care and educational opportunities. The overall proposed project focuses on three power priorities: workforce development, economic growth, and fostering of entrepreneurial activities. To achieve this, a facility was designed that fits the Appalachian region and culture. The design incorporates a branded experience to enliven the building and to help communicate the priorities and mission of the KAART Center through both low-tech and high-tech solutions.
The KAART Center will be designed to contain a reception area, rehabilitation gym, flexible multipurpose educational space, treatment rooms, administrative office spaces, researcher and therapist workspaces, and an assistive technology makerspace.
Physical Therapy students from the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and local community colleges will be able to continue their education in the lab, pursuing research and degrees. KAART will also support workforce training to mitigate the loss of coal industry jobs in the region. Trainees will learn how to repair and refurbish assistive technologies such as wheelchairs. Physical Therapy students from the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and local community colleges will be able to continue their education in the lab, pursuing research and degrees.
The Kentucky Appalachian Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology Center will be a cohesive and integrated workforce development, assistive technology development/adaptation, service delivery, education, and research center focused on ensuring the highest quality of specialized support that can be delivered to citizens of rural Appalachian Kentucky. It will serve those with disabilities, in order to maximize function and physical activity needed to improve workforce readiness, longterm health and quality of life.
The KAART Center will serve those with disabilities, in order to maximize function and physical activity needed to improve workforce readiness, long-term health and quality of life. The symbiotic spaces concept seeks to reflect and amplify this service to the community of Hazard and beyond by helping to create and establish root systems in an interconnected community environment that engages users in a variety of ways while nurturing and enriching them through a positive, revitalizing experience, in order to create growth, both personally and interpersonally.
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Inspired by the way that trees are capable of communicating with other trees via root systems and mycorrhizae fungi and are capable of responding to the needs of others by transferring nutrients, the concept of the design focuses on symbiotic spaces formed between the users of The Kentucky Appalachian Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology (KAART) Center/the people of Hazard and the surrounding communities and technology. Technology can be used to form the interconnected root systems necessary to build new foundations that can sustain growth, be it physical wellbeing or workforce. How many people in the surrounding communities can the users of KAART then impact through their own growth and enrichment?
N 1/8” = 1’ - 0” scale
reflected ceiling plan
GROWTH
treatment
treatment
storage
storage
213 sqft
The KAART Center will serve those with disabilities, in order to maximize function and physical activity needed to improve workforce readiness, long-term health and quality of life. The symbiotic spaces concept seeks to reflect and amplify this service to the community of Hazard and beyond by helping to create and establish root systems in an interconnected community environment that engages users in a variety of ways while nurturing and enriching them through a positive, revitalizing experience, in order to create growth, both personally and interpersonally.
wellness center 776 sqft
educational space 1,093 sqft
126 sqft
213 sqft
126 sqft
research workspace
653 sqft
AT makerspace 585 sqft
ENRICHMENT
FLEXIBILITY It is necessary for the KAART Center to be adaptable to each individual’s unique needs and ability levels in order to fully meet every need. By having flexible spaces and equipment, the KAART Center will be able to host many different activities and group sizes. It is important that every user have the opportunity to do tasks in whatever way best suits their ability level and personal needs. GROWTH The purpose of the KAART Center is to help every patient achieve lasting growth in ability levels, whether it be communication, mobility, or independence, an increase in wellness, and a higher percentage of workforce readiness. INTERCONNECTION To begin building strong foundations for personal growth, community growth, and workforce growth, it is necessary to connect users of the KAART Center so that there is ample support available for all users. By interconnecting users in various relationships, the fabric of the community is reinforced. ENRICHMENT Through engagement, the KAART Center will be able to enrich the lives of its users by improving quality of life in facets such as physical ability levels and community involvement.
6-YEARS
INTERCONNECTION
employee restroom Kentucky has the highest cancer rate in the nation. Cancer-related fatigue up to 6 years post-treatment is associated with high levels of disability.
30,000 24,000
FLEXIBILITY
administrative office
90 sqft
202 sqft
administrative office 202 sqft
rehabilitation gym 1,853 sqft
reception
648 sqft
public restroom 96 sqft
N 1/8” = 1’ - 0” scale Kentuckians survive a traumatic brain injury every year.
floor plan
Kentuckians suffer from a stroke and more than 200 survive a spinal cord injury per year.
1.28 MILLION
residents of Kentucky suffer from a disability, which is 29.2% of the state population.
Center for Excellence
1/4” = 1’ - 0” scale transverse section
400 Village Lane, Hazard KY
1/4” = 1’ - 0” scale transverse section
Research Workspace 1/8” = 1’ - 0” scale longitudinal section
Treatment
Rehabilitation Gym