The Youth Opportunity Union
The Youth Opportunity Union (YOU) in Poughkeepsie, NY, is a multi-use community facility that will serve as a transformative hub for youth education, recreation, and wellness in Dutchess County.
When Poughkeepsie reclaimed the city’s vacant YMCA in 2019, MASS and a coalition of local youth organizations began to develop a design vision for the site that could serve as a new community anchor.
The MASS team joined town hall meetings to hear what was missing following the closure of all other city community centers. When three local youths declared, “There should be no question what this building should become. We need a place for us, a place that's safe,” the city paid attention. MASS served as the design architect for the new project, representing the most significant public investment in downtown Poughkeepsie since the era of urban renewal.
MASS convened partners to envision a dynamic, inclusive community center whose mission—to support all youth organizations in Dutchess County—will provide a much-needed network for kids. In partnership with the community, MASS developed a vision for the site that inspired Poughkeepsie to sell the land to Dutchess County for $10 and issue a public RFP. The building will also be the home for The Path to Promise Initiative, an effort to ensure all regional young people have the assets needed to achieve their highest potential.
The YOU gives kids a place to exercise their bodies and minds outside of school, providing a space for existing youth services throughout Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County. Seeking to support one of New York’s most underperforming school districts, the organization’s programming helps uplift local and regional resources for youth in one of downtown Poughkeepsie’s largest public infrastructure investments since the 1960s.
More than just a building, the YOU represents a comprehensive, cradle-to-career commitment to giving children and young people the best possible start in life. The facility will provide needed educational, childcare, health and recreation services for families, and push the boundaries of what the community can achieve together by modeling new approaches to cross-sector partnerships and coordination.
The YOU anchors the south side of Market Street, re-establishing the gateway to Eastman Park. The L-shaped building, with two wings (pool and gymnasium), is anchored by a central lobby. The facility’s design, developed with community input, includes daycare facilities, community gathering spaces, and most importantly, classrooms.
The building is wrapped in a colorful rainscreen featuring the names of all those who contributed time or resources to the project. Topography minimizes the building’s envelope and creates informal gathering spaces at different scales to support a variety of group sizes and outdoor activities.
“The community needs and deserves a place to gather and feel a part of—with their family, neighbors and community—that expands friendships and respect.”
Diane Maffei, Dutchess County Resident
