University of Sulaimani- College of Engineering

Architectural Department - Third Year - 2018-2019 Youth Center project

First Semester - Architectural Design (135 Capacity)
Leader: L. Banaz Nasralddin M.

Project and Site Description

Description Youth Centers are designed primarily for use by middle school youth (ages 11-15)
and teens (ages 16- 18). These facilities provide safe, supervised, healthy, accountable and
age-appropriate activities for youth and teens. The Youth Center supports opportunities for
youth and teens to develop their physical, educational, social, recreational, and emotional
needs. The standards support the framework for Youth Center programs in four Service
Areas :
1. Educational Activity Spaces, Mentoring, and Intervention Services (i.e.,
Homework Centers),
2. Life Skills, Citizenship, and Leadership Opportunities (i.e., Computer Labs,
workforce preparation, youth councils)
3. Physical Activity Spaces, Fitness and Health Options (i.e., Multi-Purpose room
and outdoor activity space for individual or group sports and fitness activities, skill
building clinics; area for nutrition counseling and self-help skills)
4. Arts & Craft, Recreation, and Leisure Activities (i.e., Areas/activity rooms for
self-directed activities, individual or group lessons).
Service Road Service road/drive must be provided on the side of the
building adjacent to the mechanical room, providing vehicular
access to the snack bar service entry, mechanical yard,
electrical room and storage room. All vehicular pathways
must be kept away from children and pedestrian pathways and
outdoor activity areas.
Day lighting Good day lighting with a dim-out facility in the hall is
desirable. The direction of sunlight should be considered to
avoid glare.
No natural light is required for stores.

Ventilation Good easily controlled ventilation in the hall is essential.

Mechanical supply and extract ventilation will be required.
Ventilation should be provided to the stores as required to
comply with statutory regulations.
Vision Panels Vision panels are interior windows in corridor walls and
doors that are integral to visual monitoring and provide an
additional risk prevention measure. Vision panels must be
provided in all doors, within the facility, with the exception of
the adult restrooms.
Drinking Fountains Drinking fountains to be provided in the interior of the
facility, and should be provided in high traffic areas such as
public corridors, lobbies, multipurpose rooms, music rooms,
dining rooms.
Site location The Site is located in a commercial complex, in salm street.
Site area: approx. (3000 m2) and sited on (60m) street and salm street (30m) wide.
Parking Parking for Users and staff is required. Parking Allocation:
1 parking space per each full time staff.
1 parking space per every 4 visitors.
Parking for handicapped to be in accordance with criteria. Buses to deliver and pick up
youth curbside on sidewalk that leads directly into the facility. Locate bicycle racks near
the facility entrance in a secure location.
Outdoor Activity Area Youth outdoor activity area should provide at a minimum: Sports ground and
playground area with optional shade structure.

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Entrance & Lobby
(Control Counter)
50 m2
Lobby which contains a central counter for clerk to view/observe the youth entering
and exiting the facility, as well as, parents and visitors. The configuration and functional
relationship between the main entry and the central counter/reception desk must be
maintained. Provide communication and data connectivity to include access control and
central intercom system.

Visitor Waiting Area Waiting area for parents and visitors adjacent to the central counter/reception desk.
36 m2 Waiting area to contain seating and will also serve as an area where a few youth can gather
and socialize when not in use by parents/visitors.

Gathering Area This area is the heart of the program area and a prime gathering place for youth. One of
200 m2 the Gathering areas must be adjacent to the Cafeteria / learning center. Each commons area
to be sized a minimum of 200 m2.

Lounge (teen room)

When a teen room/lounge is provided, it is to be located so that access can be monitored
36 m2 by the central check-in counter. This space provides older teens (16- 18 years of age) with
their own space to socialize and have access to more independent activities like computers,
college preparation, and watching television in a home like environment.

Administration Director’s
Must be located in close proximity to the central
70 m 2 Office…….….20 m2 counter/reception desk and must be directly accessible from
Secretary…...10 m2 the waiting area. Provide communication and data
connectivity.

Administrative
Office ……… 25 m2 Administrative office space is to be located in close
proximity to the Director’s office and in the vicinity of the
facility entry. Provide communication and data connectivity.

Offices ……...15 m2
This room to be within the administrative area. It houses
copy machines, printers (other than those dedicated to specific
individuals), filing cabinets and storage for general office
supplies. Provide adequate electrical .

Activity Room(s)
There are two categories of activity rooms:
800 m2
- General Activity Room.
- Special Activity Rooms.
General Activity Room(s) for gatherings, or for other general uses. For these types of
activities, room to accommodate up to 30 youth.
Special Activity Room(s) allow for a variety of indoor activities. Room to afford
flexibility in use and designed for more active functions such as yoga, or martial arts. This
room is not intended to accommodate team sports. For these types of activities, room to
accommodate up to 15 youth.
Activity Room(s) will basically contain :
 Club Meetings ………………………………………. 120 m2
 Music Room ………………………………………… 150 m2
 Drama Room …………………….………………….. 108 m2
 Visual Art Room ……………………………………. 108 m2
 Photography Room …………………………….……. 36 m2
 Special Activity …………………………………….. 108 m2
 Game Room …………………………………..……... 50 m2
 Internet Hall …………………………...…………….. 100 m2
 Store for each Room (accessible from the interior) ...... 20 m2

Technology Lab
Must have technology lab strategically located in close proximity to the entry area.
150m2 The technology lab is a functional and programming requirement in all Youth Centers.
Minimum of 150m2 area for 15 youth (10 m2 per person). This space must
accommodate 15 computer workstations for youth. Lab to be arranged in a “U” shape.

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Library Youth Centre library must be designed primarily to attract youth, and secondarily to
270m2 store materials. If defined, designed and used for academic learning then the library has an
abundance of computer screens, more content in digital than paper format, and a librarian
who teaches students how to find, evaluate and use information in order to produce
knowledge.
Library will basically contain :
 Reading Room for Adults …………………………. 144 m2
 Reading Room for Children …………………………. 36 m2
 Entrance zone …………………………….………….. 36 m2
 Administration ………………………………………. 18 m2
 Books Store …………………………………………. 36 m2

Multi-Purpose Hall
A large space accommodation for use by the building for assemblies, parents’ meetings,
280 m2 exhibitions, musical and dramatic productions, choir or orchestral practices. To ensure that
the space can be used flexibly, particularly as an additional teaching space for drama, an
acoustic, folding partition should be considered halfway along its length.
A stage and chair stores should be provided associated with the hall.
Bleachers, if built in, to be lightweight aluminum and fold into wall only on one side of
the multi-purpose room. The hall has unique requirements of a large span and high
clearance structural frame.
Hall Size: 280 m2, (20×14m- height 5m) with option to temporarily divide into two equal
Spaces of 140m2.

Cafeteria In new Youth Centers cafeteria , the following recommendations are provided.
200 m2  Dining Room: 2.50 -2.80 m2 per Youth.
 Serving Areas: Cafeteria serving areas should be provided at 20 percent to 25 percent
of the dining room floor area.
Restroom
Locate toilet rooms adjacent to the lobby or corridor where they are easily accessible.
There should be toilet accommodation nearby for the use of visitors and suitable for disabled
persons.
The Toilet Block includes male and female toilet facilities and could be expanded to include:
 staff toilets / change room
 cleaners room
The design of toilet Block should provide access from the Hall and from outside.
Requirement is for one toilet and one sink per 15 youth. Where multiple toilet stalls are
provided in the male (boys) restroom, one (1) urinal may be substituted for a toilet.

Building Services
Mechanical room to open directly to the exterior of the building with no access to the
100 m2 interior space or direct access to the playground. Mechanical yard must be located away
from the outdoor activity area for noise and environmental considerations.
Heating and Cooling are a standard provision for hall.

Storage Area
50 m2 Large and issue rooms adjacent to the multi-purpose room accessible from the interior.
Storage is for programming supplies and equipment, as well as, storage for large pieces of
sports & fitness equipment. The chair store should preferably be located on one of the
sidewalls. It should be accessed directly from the hall.
Store Room shall:
 Be free space/s (without columns)
 Enable the safe storage equipment and materials in weather proof room/s
 Provide access to both the hall and to the outside
 Have appropriately robust and durable finishes.
 Provide a minimum clearance of 2.70m from the finished floor level to the underside
of the ceiling.

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Project time schedule (five
weeks)
Final Submission Drawings
 1st week: Data collection and information reports.
 2nd week: preliminary concept.
 3rd week: Plan and section presentation.
 4th week: Pre final presentation.
 5th week: Class works& final presentation.
 Site Plan ………………..…… Sc. 1/200
 All Plans ………………..…… Sc. 1/200
 Enlarge Plans ………..…….. Sc. 1/100
 2 Elevations ……………...….. Sc. 1/100
 2 Section ...………………...…. Sc. 1/100
 Architectural Detail.............. Sc. 1/20
 Model …….…………..………. Sc. 1/200
 Outdoor & Indoor Perspective
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