Community Space Architecture

The community center Shechem (pronounced shek-uh m), an offshoot of the adjacent Hope Street housing, takes its name from a pivotal setting in the Bible. Shechem serves as a central life-changing place in the stories of the people who pass through it for job skills training, professional development, and youth recreational opportunities. The interior includes a gymnasium, classrooms, a café, staff offices, and a rooftop gardening area were all programmatic components that competed for prominence, proximity, and visibility to Capitol Drive. The new facility is a physical demonstration of Hope Street’s motto, “The greenhouse for people.”