Lake Benton Community Center
Abstract
Lake Benton, Minnesota is a small town with 700 people, located in the southwest corner
of the state. I propose the design of a community center including public services of police
and fire and a public library. The community center will be a place where the people of
Lake Benton can hold community activities. Community is important, especially in a small
town where people have to work together. A well designed community center will be a
place where they can come together. The city of Lake Benton, Lincoln County and the
State of Minnesota are the clients for this project.
Many of the people of Lake Benton have a Scandinavian heritage that will influence the
design of the community center. I will use the direct observations I made on my recent
trip through the Scandinavian area along with research into the culture and architecture. I
feel it is essential for a community and its people to understand their history. The underlying
premise of this design is that historical memory is an essential aspect of life and must
inform design solutions.