HAWASSA UNIVERSTIY

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF CIVIL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN II (ARCH3062)

LITERATURE REVIEW AND CASE STUDY ABOUT YOUTH

CENTER

LIDETECHRISTOS ZINABU
MAHLET ALEMAYEHU
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction:
Youth centers play a crucial role in addressing the diverse needs of young people by
providing spaces for social engagement, learning, and empowerment. These centers serve as
community hubs where youth can access resources, support services, and opportunities for
personal growth and development.
Background:
Youth centers are community-based facilities designed to cater to the needs of young
individuals, typically ranging from adolescents to young adults. These centers often offer a
variety of programs and services, including educational support, recreational activities,
counseling, life skills training, and leadership development opportunities. The primary
objective of youth centers is to create safe and inclusive spaces where young people can
cultivate their talents, strengthen their social connections, and acquire essential skills for a
successful transition to adulthood.
Youth centers offer a wide range of services and programs tailored to meet the diverse
needs of their target audience. These may include educational support, such as tutoring and
homework assistance, recreational activities such as sports, arts and crafts, music, and dance,
life skills training, leadership development programs, career guidance, counseling and
mental health support, community service opportunities, and access to resources such as
computers, books, and multimedia facilities. The goal is to offer a holistic approach to youth
development, addressing physical, emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of well-being.
The concept of youth centers has evolved over time in response to changing societal needs
and perspectives on youth development. Historically, youth centers have roots in the early
settlement houses and social reform movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
which aimed to provide support and guidance to disadvantaged youth in urban areas. Over
the years, youth centers have expanded in scope and scale, reflecting shifts in youth culture,
societal norms, and policy priorities. Today, youth centers continue to play a vital role in
addressing contemporary youth-related issues, such as academic underachievement,
substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, unemployment, mental health challenges, and social
exclusion.
Youth centers offer a variety of program components and services to meet the diverse needs
of young people and support their holistic development. These components are designed to
provide educational support, facilitate recreational activities, promote leadership
development, offer mental health services, and more. By exploring and integrating these
different program components, youth centers aim to create a comprehensive and enriching
environment for youth to thrive. Here's an overview of the key program components
typically found in youth center programs:
1. Educational Support:
- STEM Education Programs: Offering science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
programs to enhance youth's skills and interest in these fields.
- Literacy Programs: Promoting reading and literacy skills through workshops, book clubs,
and literacy-focused activities.
- Career Readiness Workshops: Assisting youth with resume writing, job interview skills, and
career exploration to prepare them for the workforce.
2. Recreational Activities:
- Sports and Fitness Programs: Organizing sports leagues, fitness classes, and recreational
activities to promote physical health and teamwork.
- Arts and Culture Workshops: Providing opportunities for youth to engage in creative
activities such as visual arts, music, dance, theater, and cultural events.
- Outdoor Adventures: Offering nature-based activities, camping trips, and outdoor
excursions to foster environmental awareness and outdoor skills.
- Social Events and Mixers: Organizing social gatherings, parties, and community events to
promote social interaction and networking among youth.
3. Leadership Development:
- Youth Leadership Programs: Empowering youth to take on leadership roles, develop
decision-making skills, and engage in community service projects.
- Public Speaking and Debate Clubs: Building communication skills, critical thinking, and
confidence through public speaking and debate activities.
4.. Mental Health Services:
- Counseling and Therapy: Providing confidential counseling services, mental health
screenings, and therapy sessions to support youth's emotional well-being.
- Peer Support Groups: Offering peer-led support groups for youth facing common
challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, or substance abuse.
- Mindfulness and Wellness Programs: Introducing mindfulness practices, relaxation
techniques, and stress management strategies to promote mental wellness.

CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY ON GARY COMER YOUTH CENTER

Objectives
 To know about the spaces, circulation and its
relation in Youth Center
 To study about the landscape and environmental
awareness in Youth Center
 To understand about materials and its impact in
exterior and interior environment
Introduction
The Comer Youth Center is located in Chicago, United
States. It was built in 2016 A.D and designed by John
Ronan Architects. The building is an educational and
recreational center and the client was Comer Education Campus. The site covers 6968m2.
Site study
1. Climate: cold and temper
2. Orientation: East west
3. Surrounding: grand crossing neighbourhood
4. Parking: porous concrete surface surrounded by greeneries

Architectural appearance
Clarity and adaptability
 Advertise the activity
inside on the building
exterior
 Spaces can be modified
over times as program
in the youth center
evolves
 Maintaining the building
programmatic
sustainability
Concept/Design approach
 To bring social progress in backward neighbourhood
 Without the lot of glass at street level to create a sense of security while keeping the
building light and airy
Environmental awareness
 The Roof garden serve as outdoor classroom to support youth horticultural
programs
 The garden collects and recycles rain water, and serves to reduce the urban heat
Island effect
 The site surface employs porous paving surfaces to reduce the pressure on storm
water management system
Program orientation

1. Roof garden, 2. Arts and craft room, 3. Computer lab, 4. Conference room, 5.
Recording studio, 6. WC, 7. Storage, 8. Classroom, 9. Office, 10. Adaptable hall and 11.
Cafeteria.
Featured programs and activities
Leadership and social development: culture club and destiny leader club
Sports fitness and recreation: fit kids and strength training
Material used
 Rain screen cladding of finer cement panels
 Bullet proof glazing glass facing street
 Perforated metal screen
 Use of porous concrete for storm water management
CONVERGENT
Convergent means coming together or meeting at a common point.
A youth center as a convergent idea can be understood as a space or facility that brings together various
resources, activities, and programs aimed at meeting the needs and interests of young people. Just like
convergent sequences or series in mathematics, a youth center is designed to bring together different
elements (such as educational support, recreational activities, counseling services, etc.) to create a cohesive
and integrated environment that promotes the growth and development of youth. The convergence of
these elements in a youth center is intended to provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to support-
ing young people in their personal, social, and educational development.

FOOTBALL FIELD

SWIMMING
POOL
GREEN GARDEN

AMPHITHEATER
GREEN GARDEN BASKETBALL GREEN GARDEN
COURT
GREEN GARDEN

VOLLEYBALL COURT
TENNIES FIELD

CULTURAL AND
EXHIBITION
CINEMA
CENTER OFFICE
HALL

CAFE
SHOP

OPEN SPACE

WORKSHOP
GYM

PARKING PARKING
 LIBRARY
ADAPTABLE MINI HALL
COMPUTER LAB

CAFE
THERAPY ROOMS

STUDY GAME ZONE

LOBBY
ROOM