Engaging a Community: A Recreation Center for Burrville-Lincoln Heights, D.C.

Abstract

How can architecture foster relationships and create community among people who have been largely ignored by the design profession? How can architecture provide an alternative for neighborhoods dealing with violence, crime, poverty, drug dealing, and low attainment of education? The goal of this thesis is to create a recreation center that addresses the specific needs of the neighborhoods of Burrville and Lincoln Heights, located in North East, D.C., in order to provide a safe place for personal and interpersonal growth. The larger context of the site includes Watts Branch Park and Creek, which run North West and connect with the Anacostia River and park system. This location provides an opportunity to engage the landscape and highlight it as a strength of the neighborhoods. There is also the potential to make a larger connection between the neighborhoods and the city.