Raiz Community Center
Principal Investigator:
Kamila Diaz Calderon
Faculty Advisor:
Stephanie Sang Delgado
Abstract:
This transformative community project, strategically positioned just two blocks away from the heart of Kean University's main campus, emerges as a beacon of hope for the Elizabeth and Union communities in New Jersey. The project focuses on the crucial issue of food scarcity in this area, which has long been identified as a food desert. At its core, this community center is a testament to its commitment to enhancing the overall well-being of its residents.
The comprehensive design of the space is crafted to foster an ecosystem that meets immediate food needs and empowers the community through education, recreation, and vital services. Rooted in the principles of sustainability and community engagement, the project aims to create a hub where residents can access food and engage in food-making activities year-round.
The programming of the community center encompasses various facets, including recreational and educational spaces, offices for community-specific services, a food bank, a food pantry, community commercial kitchens, and accommodations for visitors. These community-specific spaces are inspired by the work of Kula Urban Farms and Interfaith Neighbors who work in and for communities across the state of New Jersey providing food insecurity relief as well as health and legal counseling services.
However, the centerpiece of the project lies in the innovative approach to food production. The design incorporates cylindrical masses of indoor hydroponics, strategically positioned at the intersection of various programmatic elements. Additionally, the rooftop spaces are dedicated to cultivating larger crops, contributing to a multifaceted solution for the food scarcity issue.
The main tectonic feature of the design is the implementation of a mass timber waffle roof structure, both in the interior and exterior spaces, which was developed through extensive research and parametric design. This architectural choice is not merely aesthetic but serves a functional purpose by indicating the diverse activities taking place within, providing shade in exterior spaces, and rotating to indicate interior spaces. The orientation and height differences of the waffle roof design act as physical and purposeful elements, seamlessly uniting different areas of the community center and, by extension, the communities it serves.