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.