Senior Directed Studies Project (1 semester of research and programming, 1 semester of design) 

The S.O.W.A. Martial Arts center seeks to encourage connections between a
diverse group of people and to provide that group with a place to develop a
mutually beneficial community.

The design features spaces created specifically to encourage interest, commonality, and dialogue between the school’s martial artists, instructors, and supporters. This behavior is encouraged with visual and acoustic connectivity between spaces and cultural and historic imagery relating to the disciplines practiced. Emphasis on the connections between certain architectural materials reinforces the importance of connections throughout the space. The elements of nature in the center call back to the spiritual origins of many martial arts as well as instinctive connections, which humans have with nature.