DeForrest - Thesis

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