Stephens Place
In a place where strength is expected and struggles are often unseen, the design envisions a holistic youth community center as a vertical journey of becoming, where design mirrors the inner evolution of growth.
Spaces of refuge are not an endpoint, but the beginning of reach, and this one embraces the nurturing balance of mind, body, and spirit through intentional practices. Each staircase taken becomes the idea that growth is not forced but experienced, one step at a time. The design invites youth to move from protection toward participation, and from participation toward empowered expression through the thresholds; floors one to three. In this way, refuge becomes the foundation from which youth can reach beyond themselves.
ProposalThe vision for the project is to transform the historic building into a living framework for youth support, and growth within rural Philipsburg, Montana. Through adaptive reuse, the space is revived as a place where history, and future generations intersect, offering youth a safe environment to belong. Rooted in connection to place, stewardship, and healing through nature, the center helps those within it break cycles of harm and build resilience. Ultimately, the project seeks to give life back to both the building and the community by investing in the wellbeing of its youth. The building will be a holistic youth community center that addresses the full spectrum of needs within the town by providing supportive and engaging spaces that help foster personal growth.
