SITE ANALYSIS Ideal building location - Suburban, downtown, short walking distance to school and senior living community.
Wakefield
Massachusetts
NEIGHBORHOOD • Low crime rate • Kids play outside • Sidewalks • Dog friendly • Parking is easy • Walkable to restaurants & grocery stores • Holiday spirit • Community events • Streets well lit • Friendly community. • Yards well-kept • Quiet
MULTIGENERATION COMMUNITY CENTER
How can community centers eliminate boredom in today’s senior citizens and tech saavy teenagers? Today’s Community Centers Bring people together within their communities.
Neighborhood
South Main Street
Rail Trail
MIDDLE SCHOOL • Gr 5-8 • Before/After school Programs • Parental involvement • Music • Theatre • Art • Tech • Sports
DOWN TOWN • Suburban • Walkable • Drivable • Clean • Inviting • Shop Local • Dining • Medical • Banking • Beauty services • Municipal & postal operations • Shared use Rail Trail under construction
Senior Living Facility • Independent • Assisted • Memory Care • Monthly-rental • All-inclusive lifestyle • Community amenities • Daily activities • Transportation • Gourmet food
Ideal Building Type - Multi level, courtyard with rooftop potential
By engaging in activities to combat boredom. Art, music, dance, exercise and gardening are activities that have positive effects on the human mind.
Basement • 2/3 basement • 1/3 Slab • SQ FT: 7,381
Total SQ FT: 28,216
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH Multigenerations together is the solution. Sharing time with young and old will help them live healthier, longer and more productive lives.
Second Floor • SQ FT: 8,918
First Floor • SQ FT: 11,917
CONCEPT
THESIS STATEMENT
Parti Diagrams
The Stomping Grounds is a multi-generation community center with a hands on approach that includes art, kitchen gardening, locomotion trains, dance & exercise, maker space, meeting space, travel planning, veterans lounge, cafe and store as well as full volunteer administrative involvement in the running of the facilty. When seniors and teens make this community center a part of their regular routines, they will become happier and healthier human beings, who gain a new sense of community they can now call their own.
Model
Drops of Water
Design Approaches SOCIAL SUPPORT • Servicing social support, and a sense of community. • Community Hangout, congregate PLACE ATTACHMENT • Identifying “The Stomping Grounds” as a third place for a habitual place to go. • Create a place where people want to spend the majority of their time.
Drops of water form larger areas of water. These drops represent the many people flowing into the space.
CLIENT PROFILE Senior citizens and teenagers often experience boredom when they get stuck at home or in a rut. When boredom sets in,sadness and depression often follows. If the two user groups can feel needed and wanted, by stopping in regularly, at a multi-generation community center, the sadness and depressed feelings will not have a chance to set in. They have a lot to offer each other, but typically where they are in the timeframe of their life, does not give them much of a chance to interact. This common stomping grounds will fill the emptiness that each group experiences when alone.
BIOPHILIC DESIGN • Nature in the space to benefit well being.
Terms of Critisism
• Views of nature and daylight.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN The built environemnt will be designed with universal design principles in mind to allow all people the ability to use the space. Products and build pieces will reflect the need to design for various ages and statures. Creating an environment that can support a variety of needs will allow seniors and teens to share the space equally no matter their abilities. CONNECTIVITY This building aims to connect people who may not otherwise meet by creating moments of intended interaction.
WAYFINDING Wayfinding techniques will be incorporated into the architectural design through creating identifiable landmarks throughout. Clear wayfinding can help ease stress levels especially in the elderly. COMMUNITY The environmentn will offer moments for community interaction. The built space should encourage interaction between user groups. Spaces should be designed that allow the community to gather and develop deep relationships. Foster an environment of socialization through designated areas for connection.
ACCESS TO NATURE Direct access to nature should be incorporatd into the community center and lighting design. Natural light should allow for optial lighting. Access to the natural environment is proven to help lower blood pressure and can improve one’s overall mood. Incorporating nature into the program will.
• Natural finishes, materials and plant life. UNIVERSAL DESIGN • Provide the same means of use for all users • Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use. • Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
DIAGRAMS Ideation Sketches
USER GROUPS Seniors Feeling Needed
Teens Feeling Accepted
Seniors - Age 65-85 • Retired • Volunteers • Locals/Townies/Born & Raised • Residents senior living community down town • Daily planned local & long distance trips • Lunch companions • Meet friends for morning coffee • Women of local garden clubs • Women exercise • Mentor for teens
TEENS - Age 13-17 • High School - Mentors for younger teens • High School - Mentors/ Companions for seniors • Part time work for responsible teens • Local girl/boy scouts community servie projects • Volunteers • Afterschool Projects with friends • Hang out with friend groups afterschool
Lounge spaces inclusive to all.
Cafe warm wood and colors for casual relaxing feel.
Room dividers provide adaptability to spaces.
Bubbles & Adjacencies
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Block Diagrams with Room Labels STORAGE 1
MENTORSHIP/TUTOR
VOLUNTEER
HISTORY/CULTURE
SEWING
17
18
19
20
21
SHUFFLEBOARD
35 UP
RESTROOM BM
FITNESS 15
EXIT TO PARKING GARAGE RESTROOM BW
59
60
22
RESTROOM 1W
GAMES/SENIOR
13
32
-
-
GAMES/TEEN
CLUB
TEEN LOUNGE 2
48
49
50
RESTROOM 1M
KITCHEN
12
24
MAKER SPACE
41
40
REST ROOM 2W
14
61
-
COMPUTER/VIDEO GAMING
23
REAR ENTRANCE
16
STAIRWELL 3
-
SEMINAR/TRAVEL PLANNING
VETERAN/LOUNGE
GYM
LOBBY RECEPTION TEEN
46
45
42
ENTRANCE 44
STEM
REST ROOM 2M
38
43
STAIRWELL 1
SB
31 UP
JANITOR
STAIRWELL 2
11
57
TEEN/OFFICE
ARTROOM/TEEN
51
37
UP -
-
-
SWAP 1 SENIOR
ELEVATOR
-
10
-
NURSE 2
CAFE/TOWN HALL 1 SENIOR
64
EXIT TO COURTYARD
CAFE/TOWN HALL/ TEEN
65
63
UP
-
52
25
STORAGE B ROOT CELLAR 66 67
EXIT TO COURTYARD 73
OFFICE
70
62
SWAP 2 TEEN
56
36
SENIOR/ADMIN
DN
DANCE/FITNESS
ELEVATOR
6
HOMEWORK 1
KITCHEN
58
34
TRAIN ROOM
TEEN LOUNGE B
28
74
MUSIC RECORDING 72
HALLWAY
HOMEWORK2
68
69
5
LOBBY/RECEPTION A/SENIOR-SHARED
CAFE/TOWN HALL 2T 33
GREENERY/SOLARIUM 27
SUSAN DEFORREST
HALL
4
26
STAFF BREAKROOM
71
1
NURSE 1
Basement 1/8" = 1'-0"
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THESIS
ART/SHARED
STORE
ENTRANCE
3
2
1
SPRING 2021
1
• As one enters the space, they feel a sense of nature by the light pouring in from the windows and clear view up to the second floor which makes the space feel open and large. • The flooring is an LVT with a look of concrete giving the feel of a sidewalk in the community. They are greeted by the receptionist seated in front of a tall green wall attached to an acoustical cork wall. • This as well as carpet on both sides of the walkway, absorb the echo sound from the wide open space. • Straight ahead is the main administrative office encased in windows to allow both the admin and the visitor more access to assistance if needed. • There is a comfortable seating and or waiting area outside the admin office and a nurses office for emergencies or simply medical assistance or advice. • To the left is a community store filled with items created by the user groups in the activity spaces throughout the facility.
EAST FACING SECTION VIEW
Rubber
Laminate
CUSTOM DESK & CHAIR
FRONT ENTRY
FRONT ENTRY PLAN
REFLECTIVE CEILING PLAN - FRONT ENTRY • If one takes a left past the store, the art room is on the left with painting and pottery supplies including a kiln in front of a brick fire wall. • Beyond that is the greenery with raised gardening beds and wall gardens where users do not have to bend in an uncomfortable positions to garden. • These are also wheelchair accessible. • Hanging plants and window views to Main Street add to the visual appeal making one feel they are outside. • To the right is a model train room. • The train sets and displays are set on tables making it easily accessible for many user groups. • Centrally located between these activity spaces are seating and viewing areas which allow the users to sit and enjoy watching the activities, outside gardens to the rear, Main Street or simply rest and relax with access to the outside courtyard in the back. • If one takes a right past the reception desk there is a cafe on the right which serves light meals and beverages. • Beyond are spaces more geared towards senior activities including games, veterans lounge, seminar travel planning, sewing, history & culture, volunteer, mentorship & tutor, storage, shuffleboard, fitness & swap center. • With access to the rear courtyard. • Elevator & two stairwells to all floors as well as rear access to a parking garage. • The second floor is geared towards teens and includes a homework center, kitchen teen swap space, art room, STEM, maker space, computer & video gaming, teen lounge, club, stand up games, gym & teen planning.
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• There is access to an exterior rooftop gardening space located in the front section of the building that is wheelchair accessible. • The basement has a larger teen lounge with access to the outside to make it easy to come and go, music recording studio with glass viewing, dance & fitness room with glass viewing of the ever changing painted mural located on the opposite wall. Staff break room, homework, cafe, root cellar and access to the parking garage.
STORE
SUSAN DEFORREST
THESIS
SPRING 2021
2
1ST FLOOR
AXON VIEW - FULL BUILDING
ADMIN OFFICE 1ST FLOOR
2ND FLOOR
BASEMENT
CAFE 1ST FLOOR
NORTH FACING SECTION VIEW SUSAN DEFORREST
THESIS
SPRING 2021
3
ART ROOM - 1ST FLOOR
GREENERY - 1ST FLOOR
VETERANS LOUNGE - 1ST FLOOR
TEEN LOUNGE - BASEMENT
FITNESS & DANCE ROOM - BASEMENT
MUSIC ROOM - BASEMENT SUSAN DEFORREST
THESIS
SPRING 2021
4