Bridging the gap: designing a supplementary hub to support schools and rural communities; a case for Hanover, Ontario

Abstract

Due to economic constraints, many rural communities, such as Grey-Bruce County in Southern Ontario, face challenges in balancing educational needs with community functions. A novel approach will emerge to design a new building typology in response to the growing needs within these communities. Consequently, this thesis aims to supplement existing rural schools with community resources to create a ‘Supplementary Community Hub’ that catalyzes collaboration, fosters vitality, develops social cohesion, and improves healthy lifestyles. Hanover, Ontario, serves as a textbook case where school spaces are at capacity, and municipal resources are limited. Grounded in the intersection of placemaking principles and the theory of social cohesion, while being informed by the local understanding of place, the ‘Supplementary Community Hub’ has an opportunity to respond to current infrastructure more sustainably and economically. This research will offer an architectural framework to reconceptualize a community-centric hub design that will support the school and broader community by establishing partnerships and amalgamating resources.