After weeks of extensive research, discussion, and many meetings, the Berkeley-Albany YMCA Teen Task Force has chosen Noll & Tam Architects as the architect for the highly anticipated teen center, to be housed in the old PG&E building. Noll & Tam is very compatible with this project for numerous reasons.
I feel the Task Force was particularly drawn to them because of their experience with similar projects. Currently, they are working with the City of Pleasanton to develop a master plan and concept design for a new youth center. They also designed a teen study area at the Carmichael Library in Sacramento. These buildings are just two examples of the relevant experience that we feel the team will bring to our project. By the end of interview process, the Task Force had identified a firm whose chemistry matched our group dynamic and the desired outcomes for the project. I was especially impressed by their team’s ability to directly connect to us as teens, the radiant enthusiasm that was consistently demonstrated throughout their presentation, and the genuine commitment that they showed toward the project. As part of their team, the Task Force will be working with Anthony Bernier, an educational consultant who will conduct focus groups with different community members as part of the programming phase. I’m really excited about hearing his insights on this very important stage of the process, and hope that his findings will guide us in the right direction as the Task Force works to balance what Berkeley teens need and want to get out of the Center.
Even though the Task Force is now on summer vacation from school, the hard work will continue, as we begin to work more closely with the firm in the programming phase. I, along with the other Task Force members, attended a kickoff meeting with Noll & Tam and Berkeley community members on Monday June 16th. Hopefully, everyone who participated in the meeting now has a clearer idea of who the firm is and the direction that the project is headed in. All participants were included in a mini brainstorming session, in which they got to name a few things that they would like to see happening in the Teen Center. On June 25th, the Task Force will hold a day long interview session in which we talk with various community stakeholders about what they envision happening in the Teen Center. I think that the primary goal is to reach a cross section of educators, students, city employees, and non-profit organizations, so that we can start to collaboratively brainstorm and discuss different ideas.
