AOS Completes Feasibility Study for New Southside Bethlehem Community Center
Southside Bethlehem, once home to the headquarters of Bethlehem Steel, is a historically working-class community undergoing a development boom that is placing pressure on its roughly 20,600 residents. Since the community’s Boys & Girls Club closed in 2017, there has been a lack of community amenity and recreation space. AOS recently completed a feasibility study project for the neighborhood’s new community center. This study marks the start of the process to bringing a purpose-built recreation space back to the Southside. The final report was recently presented to the community at an open meeting on January 30th. Mayor J. William Reynolds announced the formation of a Development Committee that will use the information included in the feasibility study to begin fund-raising for the new community center.
The goal of the Southside Community Center Feasibility Study was to conceive a community space for all ages and a place that is reflective of the City’s values as an inclusive and progressive community in its design, mission, and usage. The feasibility study had several components: needs assessment, site analysis, financial analysis, and conceptual design for a new community center. Public outreach and community engagement were prioritized throughout the study to determine community needs and allow input on community center models and amenities under consideration.
The project team, led by AOS Architects, worked with a local community facilitator, Taggart Associates, and MASS Design Group to organize the community outreach. All outreach activities included translation services to support the large Hispanic community that lives in the Southside. Events included focus group sessions, video tributes, written surveys a community caucus, and the creation of a community anthem. Bethlehem’s Community Anthem, a five-minute film created and produced by MASS, captures the voices of Southside Bethlehem and is a record of the ideas and themes that informed the program and design of the community center.
AOS & MASS Design Group lead a Community Caucus with Bethlehem residents during the design process
Concept Design Rendering of the new Community Center
The site selection process included visits to available properties in Southside and GIS mapping of population characteristics and transportation opportunities. Existing buildings and open land were both considered. The most viable sites were studied further for strengths and weaknesses and to confirm that the desired program would fit. Ultimately conceptual plans were developed for two sites so that construction costs could be estimated.
Ideas and Action analyzed data from other facilities in the Lehigh Valley, along with construction and soft costs estimated for the new center, to determine a viable model for financing and operating the community center.