Multi-Use Community Centre

About this pattern

Multi-use community centres are spaces that are open to residents for a variety of uses that can range from informal through to formal and structured. These activities are usually free or provided on a non-profit basis. The centre should be intimate but flexible enough to suggest and enable a range of uses such as celebrations, meetings, and classes.

Multi-use community centres should include a kitchen and toilets, be accessible to people with diverse abilities, and be safe and inclusive spaces. Flatt access routes and shaded areas for seating outside provide inclusivity and coolth.

They can also include a range of indoor and outdoor spaces; teenagers and young adults are often overlooked in planning, so they may need more consideration as specific target users. Repurposed sales offices could be used as multi-use community centres.

Pattern Conditions

Enablers

• Public funds to support the management and/or the construction of facilities.
• Community support, fundraising and co-production related to construction and/or the management of facilities.

Constraints

• Current development patterns and processes do not readily generate sites or funds for the construction or management of multi-use community centres
• Current sales and occupancy processes do not generate a ready pool of potential community-based site managers

Commoning Concerns

Multi-use community centres are a hybrid commons that mix ownership and management of assets between institutions in different sectors and which can combine non-profit principles with the principles of enterprise.

Access: Free for residents and should be easy and universally inclusive; events, activities, and classes may have a fee

Use: As per their name, multi-use community centres enable a range of activities and provide spaces and opportunities for spontaneous interaction.

Benefit: Multi-use community centres provide a social focal point that enhances the identity of the community and possibly provide cool interior and exterior spaces.

Care: When a non-profit organisation is the occupant, they are usually responsible for care and maintenance. Casual users (e.g., for a birthday party or meeting) are usually required to clean up after their event.

Responsibility: Often a local non-profit community organisation will own or lease the centre, and/or be responsible for site maintenance and management. Governance of facilities and policy decisions can involve community members outside of the NPO sitting as board members in addition to public officials.

Ownership: Private non-profit or public ownership.