Thesis Aspiration Synopsis

Can a piece of architecture serve as the nucleus of a geographically dispersed rural area? In a part of the country where a majority of the residents are spread out over a vast area of land, can any one building come to symbolize the center of that area? Can that building, thru its design, instill a sense of community or architectural pride, in a place currently lacking such traits? Would such a building have to be located in the geographic center of this area to be effective, or could it be merely the symbolic center? What would the function, or functions, need to be to appeal to the most members of the targeted demographic? Could this building, if successful, serve as the benchmark for future architecture in the area to measure up to, and be the catalyst which begins a new era in the design of the built environment for this region.
The questions asked here have as many socio-economic implications as they do design ones. Thru research into historical precedents set by similarly rural communities, and beginning to understand the served demographic and their tendencies, I believe that some of these questions can begin to be answered. By bringing to light the economic hurdles and benefits that such a facility must both overcome and take advantage of, its feasibility can be determined. By creating a program for a building which is tailored specifically for the purpose of bringing community together, and locating the building where the infrastructure and region will most support it I can ensure the chances that it will be successful.
I contend that a building such as this, provided that the necessary research is performed, can truly become the “center” of a place and can symbolize a watershed moment for architectural design standards and development in that region.