Youth Alternatives
This project combines the renovation of a former dairy barn with a new 28,000 s.f. addition to create a family center and office space for a local social services agency. The barn conversion houses the Family Center that includes meeting rooms, training facilities, a resource library and multi-purpose community spaces. The facility supports delivery of family based services such as counseling, supervised visitations for foster children, and family mediations, while providing access to training and resource materials.
The new addition, housing office space and support facilities for a staff of 75, is linked to the barn by a two story connector that overlooks an exterior courtyard formed between the two wings with easterly views of Long Creek and the city of Portland.
The office wing is sited and designed to maximize the use of natural day lighting and ventilation. The 60’ x 170’ plan is organized with hard walled spaces located along the north, east and west leaving the long, south facing facade exposed to the major open office area. The south facade utilizes extensive glass combined with interior reflective light shelves that help to dis- tribute available light evenly throughout the entire space.