BRIDGES In
the News
An Impressive New Home For An Important Mission
Editorial
Originally appeared in the October 1, 2004 edition of the
Commercial Appeal
BRIDGES INC., which used to be known as Youth Service in
Memphis and, before that, the Church Mission of Help, has been
serving children and teenagers for almost 83 years, but never
in a place like its new building on Auction Street.
The organization initiated a series of grand opening
ceremonies this week in a structure that stands out in Memphis
architecture like a Gibson Flying V on a shelf of guitars.
There is method to the design. The 58,000-square-foot building
- located just north of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- is tilted, so to speak, to accommodate a 40-foot interior
wall made for climbing, which serves as a sort of metaphor for
what BRIDGES Inc. is all about.
Best known for its Bridge Builders programs, which fight
racism, illiteracy and educational failure, BRIDGES Inc. also
trains youth and adults in skills that help them prepare for
the entry into the workforce.
Its new $9.5 million facility, designed by the local firm
buildingstudio, has intrinsic educational and symbolic value
in such features as its exposed steel trusses that demonstrate
how the building supports itself and a conference table shaped
in such a manner that no one can sit at its "head."
There are recyclable building materials, renewable sources of
energy and, of course, the climbing wall, donated by the
Grizzlies basketball franchise to help with team-building
exercises, along with a ropes course suspended from the
ceiling.
A 2,000-seat amphitheater in the center separates two sections
of the building, one for classrooms, a culinary training
kitchen and a large art room, another devoted to training.
All this was on display for the neighborhood and local
religious leaders this week in a ceremony that featured the
hallowing of the ground.
Another event brought in the organization's educational
partners, and a third, scheduled for Saturday, will introduce
the building to youth who have participated in BRIDGES Inc.
programs and their parents.
BRIDGES Inc. has become known for its innovative approaches
toward bridging cultural divides and helping young people
throughout Shelby County reach their potential. Support for
that mission, and the organization's ability to carry it out,
should benefit nicely from the innovative new digs.
Copyright 2004,
commercialappeal.com -
Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.
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