The NEXUS that Connects us

So its been one week since class started and I've already completed my site analysis, developed a design concept, researched relevant codes, and began to diagram conceptual ideas as they apply to my building... whew!

After looking closely at the target group (age 20-29) I found several characteristics that define this generation. They value growth, social networking, diversity, self-expression, and sustainability. They are very competitive, optimistic, independent, ambitious, adaptive, flexible, and always on-the-go. After analyzing this information and looking at the historical context, along with the program uses and the site, I have begun to move forward with the idea of NEXUS which is defined as: 
A connection between things, persons or events that is part of a chain of causation; 
A connected series or group; 
That which unites or bonds; 
A connection or center for something.  

Because of the sites central location downtown, the coffee bar will act as the bond between the group, the central place to connect, network, interact and come together, forming a diverse and eclectic group of people that feed off of each others ideas and energy. 

My project is being driven by this overall idea of Nexus but I am focusing specifically on the venation of leaves. A leafs veins are a very complex system that connect and spread about the leaf creating a dynamic pattern that provides structure for the leaf while also transporting water and nutrients for growth and contributing to the process of photosynthesis.