Taking It Global

Narratives

Architect Narrative

TECHNOLOGY ENRICHED CENTERS FOR YOUTH:

The idea to develop these alternative centers enriched with technology belongs to an international youth-driven not-for-profit organization. This project was initiated and founded by two Canadian teenagers. The organization that they have built is designed to inspire young people to create positive social change. It does so by providing them with places to learn, work and make important contributions to their communities in a relaxed, yet functional environment. Youth have access to information, connections, and resources and the knowledge that they are valued citizens of the world.

WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES OF THE YOUTH TECH CENTERS?

• Place for learning, but not a school and not a library
• Located where kids like to go to recreate, shop, work - not a citadel away from the community
• Small - 100 learners
• Less expensive and fewer resources used then traditional citadel model
• Combines socializing, learning and entertainment - this is what kids want
• Launched and run by youth
• Visualized as a global community from start
• Technology integrated from inception and is the driving force to create global communities
• Access to food and beverages in same space as learning
• Combination casual comfy chairs and couches, cafe-like seating, eating. Laptops, individual workstation (cave space) and meeting/collaboration areas
• Planned via Web collaboration between east coast, Canada, mid-west
• Vision developed to adapt flexibly to urban infill, corner and suburban locations

DESIGN AS CONCEPT AND NOT AS PRODUCT

Most architectural design envisages an end product for a specific location. The design team for these youth centers however, had to work with the idea of creating a distinct and immediately recognizable identity without limiting the customization that would distinguish each and every facility.

The founders are determined to build each center with architectural features and elements indigenous to the local community. They are also committed to getting participation from local youth in some manner - perhaps by incorporating their artwork such as paintings, sculptures or murals into the design of the facility or engaging architectural students in design competitions to elicit creative ideas for the centers.

LOCATION CHARACTERISTICS

• The youth center will be located in the heart of vibrant communities
• It will have a pool of young people to draw from who live within walking or easy commuting distance from the site
• It will be close to public transportation
• It will be in a safe area
• Unless located within a mall, it will have natural light
• It will have good Internet infrastructure access (Cable, Satellite, or Fiber)

COMMUNITY

• Will have the support of local communities
• Will be able to garner local business support
• Will be able to build partnerships with local schools, colleges and cultural institutions

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

Approximate breakdown of spaces though this will vary from center to center:

• 20% Space for formal group work and video conferencing
• 25% Space for individual/small group work
• 25% Space as unstructured large-group lounge/work area
• 30% Space for support activities

THE SPACE PROGRAM

The program was broken up into six general categories with the understanding that these requirements are very fluid and changeable. The intent is to provide the final design team with enough information without limiting creative solutions:

1. Formal Group areas such as conference and presentation space, distance learning facility and small meeting rooms
2. Small Group areas for individual and small group work
3. Lounge Work Areas. This was envisaged as a large open,
4. Unstructured area for relaxed work and socializing
5. Play and Food. Game room and cafeteria
6. Support Areas. Reception, administration, reference library, storage and central output area for printers fax machines and plotters

THE DESIGN

The space program was translated into three separate design concepts.

1. For an urban infill site
2. For a corner lot
3. For a shopping mall

FUTURE PLANS FOR THE YOUTH CENTERS

The plan is to build these youth centers around the world in a variety of settings both as stand-alone and infill units, particularly in disadvantaged areas. With thousands of members already signed on, this organization is growing in influence internationally as an online meeting place. One physical center has already been created in Toronto in conjunction with a local YMCA and other centers will be developed as funding is obtained.

EMPOWERING YOUTH - ON THEIR TERMS

There is a lot that is written and said about empowering youth to be in charge of their own destinies. Yet, the world wastes millions of hours and billions of dollars worth of youth potential. This organization has taken the idea of youth empowerment out of political hands. It is an idea to break down nationalistic and communal boundaries and build a parallel power structure. It is a non-traditional power structure outside narrow communalistic and nationalistic bounds. It permits young people to work and gain important life skills with information technologies while creating healthy micro and global communities based on mutual respect and common interests.