The Nodes Project
Nodes at Saint Lawrence Square aims to extend public library resources, activate a community space, and bridge the digital divide.
The digital neighborhood hub is a collaboration between University of Cincinnati’s College for Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), The Hamilton County & Cincinnati Public Library, and Price Hill Will.
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Two years of relationship-building made the project possible.
The DAAP faculty connected with community members to understand their desires for the space through relationship building and variety of designerly activities. The bottom-up insights shaped the design of nodes, including how people the community will access digital library resources and the structural design of furniture in the space.
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Nodes at St. Lawrence will be the first spot in the neighborhood boosted with a high-speed connection.
The project raised over $600 to kickstart wireless internet at the site (featured on Channel 12). At the same time, Price Hill Will applied successfully for a grant to fund Wi-Fi across Warsaw Avenue.
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With the first Nodes installed, the next step is to go use the space!
The DAAP faculty will learn from from Nodes at St. Lawrence to create more "outdoor living rooms" across the city and county where neighbors can connect to library resources and the internet, meet one another, and take part in their community.
For all inquiries contact nodesproject.ph@gmail.com