p:ear is a nonprofit whose mission is to build positive relationships with 15-24 year old homeless and transitional youth through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives. SERA worked with p:ear to design their new home in our neighborhood as part of a national initiative called the 1% Solution. The 1% Solution challenges architecture firms to donate 1% of their staff hours to pro-bono work. The interior renovation of an existing building for p:ear was SERA’s first completed project under this program.
nu p:ear features a kitchen as the heart of p:ear’s main program space as well as a library and quite study room for tutoring. The project also includes a new art gallery with improved lighting and flexible space for students to show and sell their work as well as music rooms and darkrooms for art production. SERA worked with local partners PAE to evaluate the energy efficiency through the use of an energy model which resulted in energy savings through new building systems. p:ear’s space is a demonstration of the team working together to achieve a healthy indoor environment and a new center for the youth.
