CHAPTER 10

BUILDING AREA: COMMONS AREA

Introduction to the Commons Area

The Commons Area of the Community Growth Center is the core of the

building. It provides a place of gathering and engagement in the building and

community. The Commons Area is located in the building on the first and second

floor and gives a physical connection between every area in the building. This

chapter will go over the purpose, areas, and the overall focus of the Commons Area.

Along with showing the plans of the entire commons area.

Image 24. Commons West View Rendering

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 Purpose of the Commons Area

The Commons Area is different from the rest of the areas in the CGC. Its

focus is to provide an area for gathering, entertainment, and a connection between

the areas in the CGC. Unlike the other areas of the building the commons area is

geared to address the issue of safety in the community by providing a safe space for

the youth and community to utilize all year around.

Area of Gathering

One of the key solutions to provide a space of interaction and safety is by

having a variety of settings for gathering. Throughout the commons area there are a

variety of such spaces. These such areas allow for a variety of interactions to occur.

There are areas of raised seating where a group can work on things together. There

is an area that is next to the curtain wall that is like a living room with couches and

end tables for just a casual gathering. On the second floor, there are raised balcony

seating that allows individuals to work on things but still enjoy the action going on in

the commons area. There is also a covered outdoor patio area where you can enjoy

the sights of the site from under cover. Nearby this patio area there is the group of

conference rooms. These conference rooms are available to rent out for the

community. This is also an area that could be expanded into for future expansion in

the CGC. These spaces offer a safe place for the entire community to enjoy.

Entertainment

The area around the Fairground Park lacks many places for entertainment

thus most people must go outside of the area for any kind of entertainment. Thus, it

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makes sense to provide a variety of spaces that anyone in the community can come

enjoy. On the first floor of the commons area there are pool tables and the seating

areas mentioned in the previous section. On the second floor there is much more.

There is a game area that includes 3 pool tables, 3 ping pong tables, a kitchenette,

and 2 theatre rooms. Now these are not the only spaces for entertainment in the

CGC that is what makes the entire CGC great. It offers a variety of spaces that

people with all types of interests can find something they like.

Connection of all CGC Areas

The commons area is a space that is what physically connects every area of

the CGC together. Instead of creating a simple hallway with a curtain wall facing the

Daycare play area a space was created that is usable and promotes the interaction

of the community with itself was made. It connects each area horizontally and

vertically with stairs and the start, middle, and end of the commons area. This allows

multiple means of access from the first floor to the second floor. Which is connected

to the other parts of the CGC.

Floor Plans and Areas of the Commons Area

The Commons Area consists of a total of 24,649 square feet of the total

125,734 square footage building space. This is split up between the first floor with
nd
9,573 square feet and the 2 floor with 15,076 square feet.

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 st
Image 25. Commons 1 Floor Area

nd
Image 26. Commons 2 Floor Area

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 nd
Image 27. Commons 2 Floor Conference Rooms

Commons Area Conclusion

The Commons area is a very simple area in context of the rest of the areas in

the CGC. It is just as important as the other areas though. It provides a place to

gather and build the community. It is also the place in the building that has extra

room to allow for expansion in the future. This flexibility gives this area of the CGC a

vital part of the center.

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