Facilities for artistic and cultural expression are incredible assets to a community. They unite creative disciplines and strengthen civic pride & character. However, a great deal of centers like this cannot spread their influence throughout an urban setting because of their reliance on event-based program. When performances are not ongoing, the space is essentially dormant. This is why informal space is the primary force behind PARC, a performing arts, recreation, and cultural center situated in downtown Halifax.  

The organizational focus extends beyond blocks of programs and towards spatial interrelations; how can an in-between space become a moment of attraction? A combination of visual intrigue and experiential opportunism encourages the community to explore the space and make it their own. Event-based program is housed in distinct blocks within a tectonic rib system. These ribs sculpt the circulation and partitions moments both internally and externally. The result is a monumental array of public spaces throughout the site, each of which allow for impromptu performance, general recreation, and cultural exchange events such as markets and craft fairs. PARC offers a consistently animate home for the informal pursuits of the general populace.