SHIRVANIAN YOUTH CENTER

Shirvanian Youth Center

Community Space + Courtyard Design

Gyumri, Armenia

The Shirvanian Youth Center remodel, championed by nonprofit Engineer Armenia, reimagines the center’s outdoor area as a flexible community space for youth gathering, recreation, learning, and everyday use. Conceived as an extension of the center itself, the courtyard is organized into purposeful zones that support both structured programming and informal interaction.

Stepped seating creates an amphitheater-style setting for presentations, performances, and group gathering, while lunch and picnic areas encourage daily use and shared meals. A retractable shade structure improves comfort throughout the day, and a central fire pit establishes a natural focal point for connection and community. Together, these elements shape a multi-use outdoor environment designed for children, teens, families, and nonprofit programming.

Grounded in flexibility, durability, and human-centered planning, the design creates a welcoming setting for activity, social engagement, and belonging. The result is a thoughtful community-centered courtyard that reinforces the youth center’s role as a place for gathering, learning, and recreation.