SCCA
Document Sample
GRADUATE DESIGN IV
The Springfield Community Center for the Arts
Pynchon Plaza, Springfield, Massachusetts
The University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Architecture + Design Program
Department of Art, Architecture and Art History
Spring Semester, 2010
The Quadrangle
Chestnut St.
to Court Square
State St.
Pynchon
Plaza
Dwight St.
Physical Barriers Social Divide
Pynchon Plaza is the intersection of many of Springfield’s assets. Art museums, theatre, entertainment, historic A gap exists between the art world of the quadrangle and those who live in the adjacent low income housing
sites, cultural markets, restaurants, and colleges are within walking distance of the site. Currently Pynchon Plaza towers. The future of downtown Springfield depends upon the ability of its current population to move upwardly
is a barrier, not only as a means of travel from the Quadrangle to Court Square, but also a social barricade and from impoverished conditions to a place of prosperity and self-reliance, not on the influx of some fictitious group of
a blight to the surrounding community. The Quadrangle is also a stockade, turned inward, with its back to the middle class people. Rather than strategizing ways to make downtown Springfield a more desirable metropolitan
community. The lack of openness in downtown Springfield leaves the community alone and under served. area for Pioneer Valley suburbanites to visit, revitalization efforts should focus on ways to accentuate the assets
Springfield already has in its present community.
= gated or walled streetscape = low income housing
= museums
museum
art education
community
center
A Bridge to a Better Springfield
Springfield Community Center for the Arts would be a building that brings
together two major assets surrounding Pynchon Plaza, Springfield’s
youth and the museums of the Quadrangle. Historically it has been artist
and student populations that precede the turnaround of declining urban
neighborhoods. By creating an art education facility for the community
in Springfield’s metro center, the goal is to foster an artist culture and
tap into the undeveloped potential of Springfield’s youth. In doing so, the
hope is to eliminate displacement from the gentrification equation and
replace it with empowerment.
Connecting Art and Community
Springfield Community Center for the Arts is a place to explore and learn.
Many interesting points of discovery appear as visitors wind their way
from Dwight Street to Chestnut Street. The final arrival point is the Dr.
Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden in the Quadrangle. Perhaps someday
the art work of Springfield residents trained at the former Pynchon Plaza
will grace the walls of Quadrangle museums.
FROM THE COMMUNITY TO THE QUADRANGLE
Enriching the Lives of Springfield Youth through Art Education
circulation + mechanical core circulation + mechanical core
director’s director’s
print making classroom ceramics classroom
office office
director’s director’s
photography classroom painting classroom
office office
contemporary art museum
art school entrance Chestnut St.
+ sculpture park
exhibition space
youth center community fountain
organization
recreation area offices
yc yc patio mural wall
director’s
office
Dwight St. assembly hall community kitchen
ceramics classroom
painting classroom
sculpture park
fountain
0 2’ 4’ 8’ 16’ 24’ 40’
Dwight St. entrance youth center patio + mural wall
sculpture park + lower museum entrance Chestnut St. + Quadrangle connection
