Community
James Keller
For Gen Y, Starbucks is a place to get work done, not just a place to work.
In the book Alone Together, MIT psychologist and sociologist, Shelly Turke, explores “how developing technology promises closeness. Sometimes it delivers, but much of our modern life leaves us less connected with people and more connected to simulations of them. Consider Facebook – it’s human contact, only easier to engage with and easier to avoid.” They still strive to be part of a community interacting with people face to face – that’s why they go to Starbucks to be productive. Alone… together.
Gen Y cares intensely about community. They want to step outside and feel community. Understanding the ‘why’ includes being able to articulate the story and purpose behind the history and design decisions to create community. What makes it a community? Is there a community garden, farm, park, or trail system? Is there a connection to a Third Place (check out Ray Oldenburg’s Project for Public Spaces) or a cool community icon used as a gathering place, which we call The Red Bench.
