Assignment

The assignment was to design a center for whole health in Willmar, Minnesota. Whole health does not just include physical health but also addresses mental health and societal issues. When you neglect just one aspect of whole health, all others will decline sooner or later.

Willmar is a microcosm of the issues facing today’s society and the community showed a great deal of perseverance in the face of adversity. I wanted to give Willmar a set of tools to effectively tackle any issue, current or future. It would allow them to grow stronger as a community in any crisis, as overcoming troubles together creates one of the strongest bonds there is.

Concept

What is the Willmar Fleet? In a physical sense, it is a fleet of semi-trailers under the roof of the Home Base, all with the same mission - Whole Health. Each semi-trailer contains a specific programmatic element: kitchen, stage, greenhouse, and flex space. An individually-operated electric yard truck can move the semi-trailers within the building and the outdoor terrace. They can also be attached to a conventional truck and driven further, redefining the extent of community outreach. Each vehicle in the Fleet is accessed by portable stairs, portable ADA ramps, and portable ADA elevators.

Semi-trailers have names and identities, so they are easy to relate to and impossible to neglect. I envisioned them as community superheroes, and everyone can take part in their great deeds. They are big, on purpose, because they tackle big issues.

To effectively deal with issues larger than your community (e.g. COVID-19), you need a design solution larger than your community. Therefore, the Fleet needs to be a network. The Willmar Fleet is in fact a branch. People in each branch will make their Fleet uniquely theirs. With the help of local artists, they will record their experiences on the semi-trailers and on the building’s walls.

The Fleets will happen in many cities, uniting people who want to stand together against all odds and help others. When you face a global crisis, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Others are just a drive away.