The Church of Nutrition
As American society becomes more secular and the congregations of the faithful diminish, what happens to the worship halls that get left behind? In areas of investment opportunity, one can find former churches adapted into event spaces, restaurants, or high-end condominiums. Meanwhile, in less fortunate areas, these grand structures may stand vacant for decades. What I’ve found is that those churches left abandoned for many years are often signifiers of poverty and food disparity in those communities.
Saints Peter & Paul Church in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh provides us with one such example of abandonment, being left vacant for more than twenty years now. The site sits at the threshold of gentrification and could be used to bridge the gap between residents, a place where new community members can integrate with existing, and where those who are struggling can find a footing to help them remain in their community. The intent of this project is to transform the former church into a nutritional hub for the community. The current food stamp system does not provide proper nutrition to those members of our society who rely on it, because provisions to improve the system have been blocked by lobbyists of large corporations such as PepsiCo. Rather than the sugary and processed foods that are often seen as the most affordable options, with the longest shelf lives, for those living in food deserts, the reimagined church will provide nutritious meals to community members, using fresh foods grown on site.
Advisers/Committee
