What if circulation and movement could transform our social and educational landscape? Picture a catwalk hanging boldly from the twenty-eight trusses of the Armory, defiantly challenging the overwhelming scale of the building. Blurring boundaries between inside and outside, old and new, the suspended viewing and circulatory apparatus becomes an innovative system of congregation and observation.
Beneath, two axes boldly slice through the fortress-like walls, introducing a newfound permeability at street level. Sculpted site work enables street-level entrances on every floor and upgraded plazas to the north and south. Within this composition, a series of new structures cut across the armory drill hall floor, situating health, work, education, and leisure programs based on strategic proximities and unexpected adjacencies.
Envision the armory becoming a social battery plugged into a network of public schools and universities. Existing educational institutions directly north will be supplemented and supported by pre-kindergarten, childcare, after-school programs, evening classes, continuing education, and technical training. Students work alongside studios leased by artists and engineers, creating a contamination of ideas and experiences. With the Armory as its anchor, the neighbourhood is transformed into a cradle-to-career campus, fueled by a spirit of collaboration and shared ownership.
