LatinX Cultural Center

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  Example Poster for Cultural Events

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  Example Poster for LatinX Center Grand Opening

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  Floor 1

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  Floor 2

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  Floor 3

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  Floor 4

Inspiration

With the entire team being members of the LatinX community, this particular challenge was an obvious choice. Not only is it on a topic that is very familiar to us, but it also plays an imperative role within a cohesive university: cultural diffusion.

What it does

The LatinX Cultural Center was designed to be a cultural hub of student activity. Gone are the days of dead museums and boring displays. The LatinX Center serves as a living and breathing testament to the beauty of Latin American culture and also provides an atmosphere that promotes academic activity and stimulation.

How I built it

First, the location of the LatinX Cultural Center was chosen. With dimensions similar to that of the Langford Architecture Building A, it fit perfectly in an empty lot near the Memorial Student Center. Then, the floor layout for all four stories of the building were designed with the student body in mind. The first floor contains the first half of a LatinX library, lounge areas, and a cultural dining area. Above that, the second floor is home to the second half of the library along with a computer lab with printing access. The third floor was dedicated exclusively to student study spaces, with twenty two individual study rooms and four larger study rooms. Finally, the fourth floor housed faculty and staff offices and meeting rooms.

Challenges I ran into

Because the building was centered around a courtyard, the primary challenge was allocating space on each floor to efficiently house all of the components of the building. Another challenge was finding ways to display the Latin American cultural influences on the building itself.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

In one day's span, not only were 2D floor plans created for the building, but a 3D rendering of the first two floors were also constructed to showcase a high-rise ceiling concept. These two models were deliberately hand crafted and took many hours to complete.

What I learned

Because the group is of Hispanic descent, this project became a great opportunity to learn about other LatinX cultures and the similarities between the two. The ability to envision a cohesive setting in which different cultures could be represented was a very enlightening process.

What's next for LatinX Cultural Center

This theoretical project was created to showcase LatinX culture as a whole. Even without the existence of the LatinX Cultural Center, the LatinX identity is still an integral part of the university and deserves to be appreciated.