Architecture for Humanity at BCI

Updates: Architecture for Humanity New York at BCI

2008-05-05T15:29:00.000-07:00

Latest photos (from 4 May 2008) are located here.

More Site Photos

2008-01-31T15:21:00.000-08:00

Clinic Precedent Photos

2007-09-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

Notes to Institute for Urban Family Health clinic
16 E. 16th Street, New York
6 September 2007 Visit

Notes

Flow of the staff and patients:
A. REGISTRATION
1. Registration and waiting area: patients check in with the patient services representative.
2. From PSR the patient goes to the social services area, which provides more privacy, to
answer questions NB: One person does both tasks
3. This area can be used by BCI when the medical team is not on site.
B. NURSE TRIAGE
1. About cubicle-sized (+/- the existing counseling units at BCI) to comfortably seat two people.
2. These can be used by BCI when the medical team is not on site. 3. Currently supplies needed by the nurse are kept in the exam room, but should be moved to a more accessible area.
C. EXAM ROOM
1. Wall-mounted equipment needs to be secured (or not mounted). Exemption: gel and soap. 2. Exam room only needs minimal storage.
3. Figure out ways to install a curtain.
4. Desk area needs to provide comfortable seating for two and a laptop.
D. Materials
1. We should avoid fabrics.
2. Materials should be wipeable.
E. Storage
1. Office supplies (computers, printers, fax/copier) need to be accessed by all staff.

BCI in the Times

2007-08-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

In December the New York Times visited BCI for a story on the soup kitchen for the Dining Out section. Also on the site is an accompanying video which features me standing aimlessly in the background for about 3 seconds. I am wearing argyle.

Exam Room ADA Requirements

2007-08-27T12:50:00.002-07:00

Updated Table Study

2007-08-27T12:50:00.001-07:00

Cot + Table Study

2007-08-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

Layout for 18 Tables. Assuming 6' Diameter and seating 8-10.
Need to serve 120 at Lunch.

Layout for 15 Cots. Possible to need room for 20?

Construction Photos

2007-08-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

Exhibition Panel

2007-08-22T18:28:00.001-07:00

Preliminary Drawing Set

2007-08-22T18:25:00.001-07:00

Postcard Design Submission

2007-08-22T18:24:00.001-07:00

Master Plan Diagram

2007-08-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

Architecture Leauge Submission

2007-08-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

Home/Less

Appending words such as “sustainable” and “green” to a project often brings praise as if merely being environmentally sound is sufficiently responsible. Large projects may have the benefits of a budget for expensive materials and sexy marketing, but the definition of green should also encompass thinking about the greater implications of our actions in the world.
Located in Morningside Heights, Broadway Community Inc. (BCI) is a non-profit organization serving the city’s homeless population. Art therapy, job training, and a nightly women’s shelter are only some of their programs. But BCI aims not only to provide meals or a bed, but to build a community, assistance for individuals to rebuild their lives, and educate the public about poverty and disenfranchisement.

Faced with growing demands for their services BCI needed a plan to fulfill programmatic elements while also reimagining their space in the basement of a church. As members of the New York chapter of Architecture for Humanity we’ve worked for several months in our after-work hours and weekends on a design to enhance a space that many consider a home.
BCI considers environmental care as a consistent part of their mission and this project. As a volunteer-run project with no budget expensive materials are outside our consideration so the reuse of donated materials has informed all phases of the work, running against the idea of architecture reserved for the wealthy.

So ultimately our conception of green privileges our obligations to society and individuals too often ignored rather than the bottom line.

New York Times on AFH

2007-08-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

Today's House and Home section has a fairly lengthy article on Architecture for Humanity's work in Biloxi:

Design Steps Up in Disaster's Wake.

New York Times Article

2007-07-31T06:51:00.000-07:00

On the Soup Line, Endive and Octopus

December 20, 2006, Wednesday

By KIM SEVERSON (NYT); Dining, Dining Out/Cultural Desk

Late Edition - Final, Section F, Page 1, Column 1, 1250 words

DISPLAYING ABSTRACT - EVEN at the soup kitchen, everyone's a critic. The multicourse lunch that Michael Ennes cooked in the basement of Broadway Presbyterian Church last week started with a light soup of savoy and napa cabbages. The endive salad was dressed with basil vinaigrette. For the main course, Mr. Ennes simmered ...

Original Site Photos, January 2006

2007-07-31T06:45:00.000-07:00

More photos here.