Weaving a stronger community

We are now in a time when populations are migrating for political, economic and climatic reasons. Cities are more populous and diverse than ever. In an era of technologies and virtual social networks, our societies are disconnected and polarized. To solve these large societal issues, we first need to reconnect; to know and care for our fellow citizens and neighbours. A great way to help build or re-build these bonds within a community is through social infrastructures such as all sorts of public facilities such as libraries, schools, sports facilities, etcetera, all places where people congregate. This thesis proposes the design of an alternative social infrastructure: a multifaceted community institution on the site of the abandoned Empress Theatre in Montreal. The design will focus on creating a set of spatial and programmatic relationships that stimulate the imagination and challenge conventional thinking, with the goal of prompting chance encounters to help weave a stronger community.