The Great Mates Community Center

Anthony Rodriguez

Community is the unification of a group of people, which involves the diversity in culture, ideas & beliefs. The community of Crown Heights is one of high diversity in cultures and beliefs, with people of all ages and with different upbringings. In a neighborhood like crown heights living conditions offers a heavily dense urban feel for most residence. Living in a place like crown heights, which is not rich in its diversity, but in its history, does come with its toll.

In this design the focus, was to accommodate for ADA accessibility to those who have independent living difficulties, allowing for a comfortable experience to all though who visit the site. In trying to captive the experience of the building upon arrival, I took the initiative to reprogram clove road, which is currently abandoned on a public level & in need of maintenance. Clove road is to be fully for pedestrian access. In addition, entry is also accessible in Nostrand Ave for those visiting the site using public transportation. In the use of spaces, my design allows for many amenities such as, a public pool, tennis court, etc. This program allows for a diverse use of the spaces provided for things like private meetings and events, camps, shows and more. Walking through the building there is an initial transition of indoor and outdoor spaces. The outdoor spaces provide the availability for gardening, sports, and other recreational activities. Overall, this design is meant to serve the people as a getaway from the busy grasp of New York City and allowing the sense of community to flourish.