Medford, Oregon | Community Resilience in a Time of Change

Abstract

In recent years, like many places around the globe, Medford, Oregon and the surrounding areas have been severely impacted by events such as the Covid-19 pandemic which caused severe illness and economic hardship for countless families in the region. At the same time, the Almeda Drive and Obenchain fires of 2020 destroyed thousands of homes and left over 4,000 people displaced. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a plan for a revitalized community hub within a greater spatial network based around the Rogue Valley Shopping Center and the Bear Creek Greenway of Medford, Oregon. This place is intended to add another layer of sustainability and support to this community through the creation of programmed public space for finding peace, play, connection, and joy, while also connecting other supportive spaces within the community.