Public Architecture Design

The Global Studio (now Fivedot) received the opportunity to work with SIDAREC after winning Architecture for Humanity's 2007 international design competition sponsored by AMD. 

The Slums Information Development & Resource Centre (SIDAREC) Youth Technology Hub is a sustainable, technology focused community resource center in Mukuru Kwa Njenga, an informal settlement of over a quarter million people on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. The SIDAREC organization believes positive development occurs by realizing the concept, "Community problems need community solutions." SIDAREC strives to empower the youth in Mukuru to generate community solutions and positive change by utilizing education and technology to harness the untapped potential the youth inherently have. SIDAREC's ultimate goal is to enable the community's youth to raise their standards of living and improve their community.

The Global Studio refined its winning competition entry (designed by Mathew Sullivan and AShley Waldron) with SIDAREC, Architecture for Humanity and AMD to create a viable project and achieve a highly functioning Youth Technology Hub for the people of Mukuru. Traveling twice to Kenya to facilitate community workshops with SIDAREC and the other building users of the community, the Global Studio further developed the program and better learned about SIDAREC's needs and opportunities. The Global Studio partnered with local architect Planning Systems of Nairobi from schematic design through the successful completion of Phase 1. Funds for phase 2 are currently being raised to complete the second story radio station.