Community Development Center
Bronze Prize in Architectural design
The Community Development Center becomes a central plaza for the city, and, since each block opens onto a series of patios and terraces at different levels, it creates spaces suitable for both private uses and large gatherings. As part of the Urban Improvement Program of the Federal Government (SEDATU), along with six other projects that were built by the studio in two border cities of Sonora, it integrates various cultural and recreational programs aimed at strengthening the sense of belonging among the region’s inhabitants. These projects were shaped by the constraints of building during the pandemic, which limited the availability of materials and skilled labor. The solution was to rely on a single, locally sourced material—brick—that provided continuity throughout. By leaving all elements exposed, without claddings or paint, the construction process was simplified, and future maintenance reduced. The rough brick walls and raw finishes establish a dialogue between humanity and time, and between the project and the landscape, offering the local community fertile ground for an evolving work, open to continuous transformation and collective participation.
Participant category: Small company (< 10 employees)
Company name: Fernanda Canales
Country: Mexico
Location: Naco, Sonora, Mexico
Client: Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU)
Team: Ángela Vizcarra, Alberto García Valladares, Rodrigo Ducoing, Yazmin Hernández, Ariadna Gutiérrez, Tania Sánchez, Alexis Morales, Teresa O. Salito, Christian Ortega, Paulina del Castillo, Lucero Arenas
Edition: 2026
Project status: Realised
Website: https://fernandacanales.com/