The purpose of the Dangers of Surveillance Pavilion was to serve as a demonstrative aid for the Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC). An organization focused on fighting against the over-policing of schools in New York.
For the design, the pavilion’s entrance mimics that of a school. A narrow hallway lined with lockers sets the initial atmosphere. However, instead of books and supplies filling the lockers, security cameras are located inside, giving an initial shock to those entering the space. The space then opens into a large room with walkways diverging on each side of an opaque box in the middle. Along the walkways, podiums line the walls carrying various items of contraband not allowed within NYC public schools. To continue this element of shock, security cameras are placed above each podium, creating an uneasy tension between the idea of wanting to interact with the contraband but also knowing that you are being recorded. Finally, at the back of the pavilion, one can enter the opaque box. Inside is a security room with feeds displaying the footage coming from each camera. This creates a final layer of shock as those visiting the exhibit are unaware that they are being watched by others.
