Thesis Statement - Updated

Composite Community Wellness Center


Throughout time, society has come across issues of poverty and crime. Some efforts have been made to correct the minds of the unfortunate however no valid attempts have been made to revitalize them into a positive aspect of our community. Persons to be accepted within the program regimen are homeless, substance abusers, recently released inmates, and the mentally unstable. The proposed goal is to find an acceptance into the program for each individual, and rehabilitate into society through a means of education and integration. The facility will use community as a therapeutic tool as a more holistic approach to rehabilitation. Through the use of existing conditions both in building structure and existing structure of life, the architecture will create a blur of the physical and metaphysical aspects of space and human interaction. In order to create this “ blur “ of conditions old and new complete site rehabilitation will provoke community interaction with program elements such as an Island Library, Amphitheatre as well as a public gallery. The aim of such an institution is to give those less fortunate the means to re-learn many things that members of community take for granted. In order to benefit its users, the building will be comprised of 3 major stages. These stages, Aggregation, rehabilitation and Imperforation will consist of 3 user types ranging from those bound to the confines of the site to those who are more transient. Major program elements are to include a welcoming center, medical/research facility, a school, community gallery and a distribution area where newcomers will be evaluated and placed in the most beneficial stage to suit their needs. The campus program elements will both react to the occupants of the space as well as the existing structure of the Renwick Smallpox Hospital seamlessly to create a healthy, successful environment for both the community as well as the clients. The proposed knitting of site and solution will draw the public through boundaries typically not crossed by community.