Women for Women International (WFWI) is a non-profit organization that embraces a carefully tailored, educated, and holistic approach for mobilizing women who suffer from war and post-war trauma around the world. The organization helps women change their lives and find purpose by helping them develop job training skills and attain self-sufficiency. In Kosovo, they are realizing this mission by building an opportunity center. 

The structure is sited to protect it from harsh winter effects by positioning the north façade away from the wind and embedding the ground floor into the side of the hill.

The three-story facility houses educational, training, administrative and assembly spaces.  The building’s goal is to maximize flexibility for the use of rooms and encourage growth, while incorporating the highest standards for sustainability.

The first floor in glass to offer a welcoming, accessible view to the public. The second and third floors are split into twin cubes in order to reduce the scale of the structure.

An outdoor terrace area is an extension of the cafe.  It allows for informal gathering area and a place to stage events.

The kitchen and cafe provide a place not only for staff and students to eat, but also as a training area for new skillsets.

The administrative area relies on extensive use of daylighting.

Combining small locally available windows allows for larger openings in the façade. The openings are scaled to create a dynamic composition of solid and void space.

 The south elevation has large windows and a glass storefront to maximize day lighting and thermal gain. The building is naturally cooled in the summer through transom windows above the classroom doors, as well as a central staircase with openings at the top to create a “chimney effect,” drawing air out of the building.