The Healing Trail seeks to provide a safe, comfortable space for the people of the Poughkeepsie to use to help them learn and grow as a community. Poughkeepsie, a town located along the Hudson River, deals with a lot of activity related to gangs and addictions, however, it lacks the permanent spaces and programs necessary for addressing these topics. With a focus on the 12 Steps Program for recovering from addiction, this health center will provide a permanent space for 12 Step participants to meet. In addition, two different types of learning spaces weave through the building; the first being a space where one can become more aware of mental and behavioral health and the second being workshops where one can learn and build life skills necessary for navigating the world and giving back to the community.
To provide these spaces, architecturally, the building seeks to use the healing properties of nature through the use of interior gardens that also function as light wells bringing natural lighting into the interior. Formally, the building slopes with the topography, blending with the natural landscape. The roof of the building functions as a roof garden and pathway that connect the existing and heavily used Dutchess Rail Trail to the new Meditation Labyrinth and Ancestral Garden Celebrating the African Spirit are planning on creating, drawing the community to this space.
