Serving neighborhood needs on Washington Street, The Root Cellar provides a variety of services for a wide range of clients. The topography of this compact urban site provided an opportunity to access varied program spaces from the sidewalks of both Washington and Madison Streets. From Madison, clients access a gathering space for 300, with full kitchen facilities. From Washington, the main entrance accesses the teen center, clinic, classrooms, and offices. By recessing the building into the hillside, we provided a way to control the scale of this building, helping it to be a good neighbor both visually and spiritually.