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Master Plan / Spring 2019

Amherst Boys & Girls Club

Design Studio VI University of Massachusetts, Amherst Department of Architecture Students Shannon Barrows, Max McCabe, & Maxwell Zaleski Instructor Erika Zekos

Contents Introduction

Our Process and Partners History of the Boys and Girls Clubs

Context & Research

Current Conditions Research About Amherst Context

Master Plan Framework

Goals for the Future Future Program Site Analysis

Design Proposals Proposal A - Youth Hub on the Hill Proposal B - Verdant Village

Introduction Our Process and Partners

History of the Boys and Girls Clubs

This document was developed by students at University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Architecture, Design Studio VI in partnership with the leadership and participants of the Amherst Boys and Girls Club. Each year, students in Design VI engage in a participatory design process with a community partner.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America was founded in 1860 by three women in Hartford, Connecticut. The women wanted to create a positive alternative for boys who roamed the streets. With character development as the cornerstone of the experience, the Club focused on capturing boys interests, improving their behavior and increasing their personal expectations and goals.

During the spring 2019 semester we partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to consider the impact of access to after school services for youth in Amherst, MA. The mission of the Amherst Boys and Girls Club is to enable all young people, especially those who are challenged by inequalities, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Today, more than 4 million kids and teens are impacted by their Boys & Girls Clubs around the United States. Clubs provide a fun, safe and constructive environment for kids and teens during out-of-school hours. Community-based and led by professional staff, Clubs serve small towns, large metropolitan areas, public housing communities, and Native populations, as well as those who live on U.S. military installations worldwide. They offer programs and services to help young people succeed in school, develop leadership skills, and maintain healthy lifestyles. Boys & Girls Clubs of Americaâ€™s research shows that young people who attend a Club regularly tend to do better than their peers nationally. For instance they get better grades, exercise regularly, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and express interests in their futures at higher rates. (Source: Boys & Girls Clubs of America)

Throughout the semester the Design VI studio visited the Boys and Girls Club once a week. The Design VI students brought activities that were intended to introduce club participants to design opportunities and to engage them in thinking about architecture and their own club spaces. We worked collaboratively with club member and staff to understand their mission, identify needs, to test and prototype solutions, and to evaluate those solutions. A community day is scheduled for early May when the finished mural will be painted and installed. The Design VI student engaged in two parallel projects to serve the Boys and Girls Club mission. The first is a modest design/build project for a mural to be hung on the fence adjacent to the existing basketball net at the existing site. The second is a master plan for the future expansion of the club onto a new site in Amherst. That work is collected here and includes documentation of current conditions, site analysis, and design drawings.

Context & Research Current Conditions The following section analyzes the current Amherst Boys & Girls Club space and programmatic elements. Research About Amherst Context This section explores other aspects of Amherst that might have impacts on the current Amherst Boys & Girls Club. Some of this initial contextual research helped inform the site analysis in the next chapter.

Game Room The first room upon entering is the game room. There is a pool/table tennis table, air hockey, foosball, and a fourth small game. On most days we visited this room wasnâ€™t used very much, but depending on the kids who are there the games get used.

04 01

Conference Room

Outdoor Space

The conference room is heavily used due to its projector. Kids often play Fortnite on the big screen, but only one can play at a time. This room is also used for group activities and dinners.

Outside kids can play in the back parking lot. There is a basketball hoop and a very small amount of grass next to the fence. On the other side of the fence is the high school. 02

Current Conditions The current Boys & Girls Club Space is very small and the interior is tight, prohibiting large groups from being together in one room. The majority of time is spent around the TV or in the computer lab, but neither space is large enough for everyone who wants to join. The art room includes a small table and some storage for art supplies, but is underused. It feels dark and uninviting. The kitchen is sized for cooking small group meals, however it does not provide the opportunity for larger interaction with the community or the membersâ€™ families. The outside space is very simple, with a narrow strip of grass along the building and the back fence. The rest is paved parking. The club members have the opportunity to go outside, however the space to relax and hang out with friends is limited to that small amount of grass and the basketball hoop which is set up in the parking area. With approximately 50 current members and with plans to grow, the club could benefit significantly from a larger space, one which feels welcoming and inviting. Creating larger spaces so people arenâ€™t crammed together, as well as bringing in more natural light and providing exterior spaces for the members, will improve the atmosphere and contribute to the organizations mission to help young people succeed in school and in life.

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Amherst Parks, Open Spaces & Recreation Amherst has many parks and green spaces for the community to enjoy, ranging from recreational facilites with pools and basketball courts, to trails through conservation land and the Holyoke mountain range. This is a small selection of what the town has to offer.

1. Puffers Pond

2. Mill River

3. Kendrick Park

4. War Memorial Pool

5. Sweetser Park

6. Town Common

7. Fort River at Adams Brook

8. Amethyst Brook Conservation Area

9. Groff Park

10. Kwanis Field

11. Pomeroy Pond (Jack Frost Trail)

12. Mt Holyoke Range State Park 07

Research About Amherst Context The Amherst community has many services, resources, and events at their disposal. These include youth services, educational guidance, help for those who are struggling financially or with food security, and many arts and cultural events. These are a sampling of services in town and the surrounding areas that are open to the community.

Services/Resources

Town Events

Youth & Families

Civil RIghts

Arts & Culture

• Big Brother Big Sister - 1-on-1 mentoring • Amherst Boys and Girls Club • Family Outreach of Amherst- Work with families struggling with money, housing, mental health, abuse, addiction, and life skills • Community Action- Provide support and programs to low income families • United Way of Hampshire County- work with many programs to give, advocate, and volunteer on behalf of community

• Stravros Center for Independent Livingadvocate for deaf and disabled individuals • Cancer Connection inc- Free support for cancer patients and families

Education

Homelessness & Housing

• Amherst Education Foundation- promoting equity, and excellence, diversity and local support for schools • Amherst LSSE - recreation and education services, after school programs, summer course

• Amherst Survival Center- food pantry, hot lunches, clothing • Rotary Club- volunteers giving back to the community • Not Bread Alone- Soup kitchen • Habitat for Humanity- help provide houses for ow income families

• Jewish Community of Amherst • South Congregational Church • Hitchcock Center- educational science and nature programs • Friends of Jones Library- raise funds and supports the library and its programs • Yiddish Book Center- keep the language of Yiddish alive • Burnett Gallery- Provide show space for local artists • Mead Art Museum- Free exhibits and events • Eric Carle Museum- art programs, story time, youth programs

Recreation • Friends of Amherst Recreation- support local recreation and stimulate participation • Amherst Baseball- boys and girls ages 5-16

Other • Young Professionals of Amherst- networking group

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Winter Fest Art Programs Summer Concerts Story-time Farmers Markets Educational Lectures Electrify Amherst (Electrical Box Painting) Hawk Migration Watch Girls Try Hockey For Free Halloween Window Painting Family Science Series-Hitchcock Center Ukulele Strum Along Garden Tour 4th of July Celebration Hot Summer Saturday Movie Matinées Amherst Arts Night Plus

Demographics These are some additional general facts about Amherst, MA (located at 42.3732ON, 72.5199OW) (Census) The area of Amherst is 27.7 mi2. There are 2756 business in Amherst. There are 8273 employees in Amherst Center (Census).

Circulation and Transportation I Recent census data shows that in 2017, 40.4% of commuters walked, 29.7% of commuters drove alone, and 29.7% work at home.

Circulation and Transportation II

Master Plan Framework Goals for the future This section describes the general goals that the administrators and club members have for the Amherst Boys & Girls Club. Future program This is a rundown of the spaces that are desired for the future Amherst Boys & Girls Club building and location (based on Mr. Crossmanâ€™s Initial Program Information doucment). Site Analysis The diagrams in this section offer an explanation for the later design decisions (the orientation of the spaces and the layout of pathways).

Basketball Courts Public Usage

Shared Spaces

Other Organizations

Larger Gathering Space

Common Goals

Larger Kitchen and Dining Space Theatre - Performance Space

Solar Panels and/or Geothermal Green Space Access

Sustainability

Triple Pane Windows

Club Members

Administrators

Music Room

Homework Room STEAM Lab Library

Larger Computer Room

Learning

Classroom Art Related Spaces (Music Room, Workshop)

Fundraising

Opportunities for Club Members

Affordable

Not Complicated

Teen Lounge

Future Goals The Design VI team visited the Amherst Boys & Girls Club (AB&GC) to gather input that would eventually inform the master plan. One interview with club administrators took place and three group interviews with club members. Based on the interviews the Design VI team was able to pinpoint the AB&GC’s goals for the future. Using these explicit and extrapolated goals the Design IV took a preexisting program and modified it to reflect the additional needs highlighted from the interviews. The Administrators’ Goals: One reoccurring multi-part goal posed by the administrators was providing the club members with opportunities. These opportunities consisted of learning and exploring new fields, making lasting relationships, and gaining confidence. Many of the desired spaces in the program for the future location confirmed this, providing club members with access to art-related spaces (i.e. a theater, a music room, a commercial-grade kitchen, and a workshop). A second goal was creating a space that was sustainable and that could educate the public about sustainability principles. A final goal was have spaces that accommodate other local organizations to boost collaboration, efficiency, and civic participation. The Club Members’ Goals: A resounding goal of the club members was the need for a larger gathering space. A secondary goal was the desire for a larger computer room. A final goal shared between both the administrators and the students was the desire for a basketball facility, specifically the need for a gymnasium space (with two indoor basketball courts). 13

Amherst Boys & Girls Club - Master Plan - Working Program Name

On the left hand side is the desired program of spaces provided by the Amherst Boys & Girls Club with the Design VI teamâ€™s observations and interview synthesis. Square footage allotments were based on research and previous programs.

Common Spaces Gym Conference Room Printer Room Entry / Vestibule (as needed) Circulation Space (at 30%) Exterior Space Storage Mechanical Bathroom(s)

9000 1100 300 250 8985 3000 2000 1800 500

Amherst Boys & Girls Club Commercial Kitchen Cafeteria Multipurpose Rooms (2@600 SF EA.) Member Meeting Room Teen Lounge Music Studio Arts & Crafts Room Office Space Computer Lab Classroom Library / Homework Room STEM Room

1200 1000 1200 500 600 600 600 1000 600 600 900 600

Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Offices (10@150 SF EA.) Waiting Room/Reception Area Storage

1500 300 400

Big Brothers Big Sisters Office Space ________________________________ Grand Total = 38935 SF 14

Area (Square Feet, SF)

Future Program

400

In addition to the Amherst Boys & Girls Club other organizations who will be using the space include: 1) Amherst Leisure Services & Supplemental Eductation (LSSE) 2) Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)

Diagram: This pie chart shows the approximate allocations of various types of spaces.

Current Amherst Boys & Girls Club Site

Current Site and New Site

Current Amherst Boys & Girls Club Building

This diagram shows the relationship between the current Amherst Boys and Girls Club (AB&GC) site (highlighted in red) and the new site (filled with a dot pattern). The address for the current site is 29 A Cottage Street, Amherst, MA. The current site is 18,322 ft2 or 0.4 acres The new site is 247,420 ft2 or 5.7 acres

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N Solar Orientation Solar Solar Orientation Orientation The sun diagram shows the sun’s path through the sky at the solstice and equinoxes. It shows the dates, the set times, and angle of through the sun the at itssky highest in the Therise sunand diagram shows thethe sun’s path at thepoint solstice andsky. equinoxes. It shows the dates, the rise and set times, and the angle of the sun at its highest point in the sky.

Vector Trees from <a href=â€?https://www.vecteezy.comâ€?>Design Credits: www.Vecteezy.com</a>

Property Line Wetlands

Topography, Vegetation, and Wetlands

Tree

Approximately half the site is wetlands, which is undevelopable and cannot get built on. There is a row of mature maple trees running east-west through the center of the site. The rest is meadow grass and low scrub brush. The site has a high point near the center and slopes noticably in all directions, with the steepest hill to the east.

Educational

Residential Neighborhood

Fraternity Residence

General Residence

N Site Site Zoning Zoning

Our ed as as residential residential neighborhood, neighborhood, meaning meaning itit is is mid-density, mid-density, and and adjacent adjacent to to high high density, density, Our site site is is classifi classified primary streets, or zones between density other districts primary streets, or transitional transitional zones between low low meaning density and and other districtsand adjacent to high density, Our site is classified as residential neighborhood, it is mid-density, The reruired setbacks are: The required setbacks are: primary streets, or transitional zones between low density and other districts Front Setback: 20’ Front Setback: 20’ Side/Rear Setbacks: 15’ Side/Rear Setbacks: The required setbacks15’ are: Front Setback: 20’ Side/Rear Setbacks: 15’

Pedestrian Way

Site Neighbors

Car Access

This diagram shows the businesses, schools, and residences that are near the parcel. A large number of businesses that are focused on childcare standout. This is not surprising since there are a large number of Amherst public schools nearby. Moving forward the design team will need to coordinate with the Wildwood Elementary School and the Amherst Community Childcare Head Start to ensure that the Amherst Boys and Girls Club can use the access road (indicated in purple).

Vector Eyes from <a href=â€?https://www.vecteezy.comâ€?>Design Credits: www.Vecteezy.com</a>

Walkable Path Field Cut Through

Walking Routes and Privacy This diagram shows the relationship between walking routes and privacy. Vegetation appears to be strategically planted to buffer houses from pedestrian paths (serving to limit sightlines and noise). The bushwacked path that connects the Cottage St. residences to Wildwood Elementary School conveniently goes right through the AB&GC site parcel. A future design could utilize this path, to improve access to the planned clubhouse. One might surmise that the students value efficiency because they have readapted the natural environment (creating literal paths) to get to their respective school buildings in as little time as possible.

Node (A Major Intersection) Site Access Point

Site Accessibility - Walk, Bike, Drive

Safe for Pedestrians and Bikers Offers some Safety to Pedestrians and Bikers Major Bus Route Car Access

It appears that Main St., E. Pleasant St., Triangle St., Strong St., and N. Hadley Rd. are integral to access to the site. Members from Amherst would most likely walk or bike to the site via E. Pleasant St., Strong St., and Cottage St. because these streets are safe for these modes of locomotion (Amherst Transportation Plan, 2014). Parents and other visitors coming from Hatfield, Hadley, and Sunderland are most likely taking a bus or car on Route 116. They get off at the N. Hadley Rd. exit, drive through UMass Amherst (on Massachusetts Ave.) Drive down N. Pleasant St. to Kendrick Park where they take a left on E. Pleasant St. They then drive down Strong St. a little way and take a right down the Wildwood School Access Road. They then arrive at the parcel. 21

Design Proposals Proposal A - Youth Hub on the Hill This scheme consists of a single building, which brings all the organizations and programs together as one communal hub for the youth of Amherst. The building sits at the top of the hill and includes an interior street which connects the community to the different areas of the building, beginning with the community spaces and branching out into each individual organizationâ€™s area. Designer: Shannon Barrows Proposal B - Verdant Village This scheme is a clustering of four buildings. Swaths of fields and picnic areas playfully swirl around the buildings connecting them and adding to the overall lushness. A serpentine, wooden boardwalk leads visitors between the row of rustling, majestic maple trees. Several underground tunnels connect the buildings allowing for easy passage during the winter months, as well as wheelchair accessibility. Designer: Maxwell Zaleski

Floor 2

Site Diagram Public Amherst Boys & Girls Club LSSE Big Brother Big Sister Dining Site Plan

Outdoor Space Services

23 02

Floor 1

Floor 2

Roof Plan

Plans & Sections This program combines ample communal space, individual offices for each organization, and exterior space to create a building which suits the needs of every occupant. Amherst Boys and Girls Club: 6,700 sq ft LSSE: 2,500 sq ft (+ storage facility which could be added) Big Brother Big Sister: 900 sq ft Shared Space: 16,900 sq ft Section

01 24

Total Building: 30,900 sq ft

Proposal B - Verdant Village Welcome to the Verdant Village. Here sophisticated minimalism meets bucolic, farm-inspired architecture (a nod to the prior landholder, Hawthorne Farm). Nestled on a grassy hilltop meadow rest four buildings (one for recreation; one for dining; one for learning; and one for performing and public outreach), creating a vibrant hamlet bustling with youthful life and learning. This is a new home for the Amherst Boys and Girls Club, Leisure Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Family Outreach of Amherst. It will serve all club members and Amherst public. Total Building Square Footage: 38,250 sq ft 25

Proposal B - Coded Programmatic Buildings

1 3 SA

5 6 SA

Proposal B - Site Plan with Landscaping 1. Underground connecting tunnel (with lightwells) 2. Switchback path 3. Underground connecting tunnel (with lightwells) 4. Path connecting to the basketball courts 5. Boardwalk connecting the ‘performance and public outreach building’ with “The Carousel”. 6. Parking lot 7. Wetland 27

SA, Section A: East-West Vertical Cut

SB, Section B: North-South Vertical Cut

Proposal B - Sections

3 6

5 2 7

Proposal B - Southeast Aerial View 1. “The Carousel” 2. Basketball Courts (Gym) 3. Learning Building 4. Performance and Public Outreach Building 5. Childcare Center Building 6. Wetlands 7. Land Surrounding the Site 8. Solar Panels (Dark Blue Rectangles) Capture Southern Sunlight 30