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SHAAREY TPHILOH SYNAGOGUE 1962
PW ABOUT
COMMUNITY DESIGN
Perkins & Will, has agreed to design our community commons project with their social purpose group. Over the coming months, Perkins & Will will work with our Design Committee to create plans for two more courts, the community commons, and the outdoor and parking areas.
The Design Committee is comprised of cultural leaders from across Portland. All of the design meetings and materials are publically available at the link below:
DESIGN PROCESS LANDINGPAGE
PW WORK
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
“The Community Commons will bring together neighbors of all ages and backgrounds to serve as the most inclusive and culturally vibrant space in the city.” – Barrett Takesian, PCS
PROJECT MISSION
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The Community Commons Project aims to bring PCS from a leading youth development organization into a leading community development organization by engaging the whole family, not just the student, over a long time horizon.
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PCS invested $2 million to revive and repurpose 66 Noyes Street between 2016 and 2020. The Community Commons Project will complete the site to serve the Portland community for generations to come.
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With every endeavor, PCS commits to including neighbors of all backgrounds. Annually, PCS provides $450,000 of financial aid across four youth programs and one family/adult program, more than half the organization’s budget.
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PCS is a 501c3 organization with no profit incentives. The organization exists to close the opportunity, wellness, and integration gaps in Greater Portland.
PROJECT FACTS
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The design committee included members of the neighborhood, students, and adult leaders from many of the city’s cultural groups.
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This is not a tear-down or complete renovation--two additions will complement the existing building. The additions include two squash courts, cafe/event space, community kitchen, and meeting spaces.
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PCS won a national bid to work with the Social Purpose program at the Boston office of Perkins + Will -- an internationally renowned architecture firm.
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Perkins + Will facilitated three months of vision meetings with stakeholders to develop the design - meeting outcomes
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In 1962, the Shaarey Tphiloh Synagogue designed additional community space for the facility. Portland Community Squash will realize the same vision, sixty years later.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
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The additional space will encourage engagement for the whole family, including and beyond squash.
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All neighbors are invited for coffee with friends, weekly events, fitness classes, volunteer opportunities, and community potlucks.
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Redesigned outdoor spaces and the community commons will increase curb appeal and neighborhood engagement.
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Rather than a few large gatherings per year, PCS will move towards a regular schedule of smaller cooking classes, lectures, community dialogs, and art events.
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The space allows for more partnerships with organizations including but not limited to: Portland’s Office of Economic Opportunity, LearningWorks, and 317 Main Street.
COMMUNITY CONSIDERATIONS
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PCS is increasing neighborhood engagement during the design process in hopes that the neighborhood will view the Community Commons as a second home upon completion.
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PCS will work with the neighborhood to study traffic patterns and parking.
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Construction is expected for 2023 construction season.
RENDERINGS
Renderings
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