A TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Partner: Rebekah Young Sing, Alexis David

Instructor: Greg Andonian

The Elgin/Frank/Cartier/Gladstone site is situated in a highly dense commercial area surrounded by residential with streets that connect to the heart of downtown. The surrounding neighbourhood contains an aging population with a mix of family units. Challenges for the site include accessibility in terms of transportation, activating the site in the winter, along with a lack of community resources such as community programs and mental health services. This site provides a lot of opportunities to engage both the community surrounding the site and visitors passing through Elgin street. With an abundance of commercial spaces to draw people to the area, along with the canal running south-east of the site, the opportunity is there to converge people into one location.

The proposal introduces an Art School with a primary emphasis on Health and Wellness, offering a combination of mental and physical enrichment through art-based programs and physical therapy. This unique institution aims to address and investigate health conditions that predominantly affect the senior population. Complementing this initiative, a new transit hub is planned to serve as a pivotal connection point branching out from the site toward the city's core, ensuring convenient access for the community and beyond. Ultimately, the school's mission is to provide continuous passive healing resources to benefit the community year-round.

The program comprises of facilities designed to support individuals confronting mental and physical health challenges during the later phases of their lives, including conditions like Dementia and Parkinson's disease. These facilities serve as a hub for healthcare professionals to diagnose these conditions and engage in research to develop effective treatment strategies, all within the convenience of an on-site research center. Moreover, the building serves an educational purpose, offering lectures and gallery exhibitions featuring student artwork, while also actively encouraging community involvement in supporting those in need.

Wayfinding plays a pivotal role in the school's design, influencing how individuals navigate and orient themselves within each space. The building's layout revolves around a central ramp serving as the primary circulation hub, seamlessly connecting all school floors. Regardless of whether one enters from the west or east side of the building, the circulation intuitively guides them towards the central ramp, facilitating a smooth transition through the program spaces on every floor. Given that this school is tailored for an older population grappling with health concerns, prioritizing accessibility ensures that individuals are gently guided from the moment they step inside the building.