Buchanan Park Recreation Center
Evergreen, CO
Design Firm | EVStudio
VIEW POOL EXPANSION
(Primary Entry at Existing Buchanan Park Recreation Center)
Evergreen Parks and Recreation is a frequent repeat client of EVStudio's commercial group, with the master plan for Buchanan Park being a huge source of work. This public entity received frequent public funding and state grants and tasked the EVStudio team to develop concept designs for expansions and improvements. The Parks team would price these concepts and assess financial viability and design timelines.
While I have chosen to exhibit just 4 of these concepts, Parks and Rec had the ideas for a CLT-framed Performance stage and civil-redevelopment of the Buchanan Park lot. The design team prepared these additional designs as well.
As the viewer can see, the existing Buchanan Recreation Center has a prevailing "Rustic Mountain Town" appeal that all expansions had to emulate. The clean lines of vertical wood siding, casement windows, fieldstone wainscots, and asphalt shingles created a template to follow.
My contributions to this project were primarily—but not limited to—the following:
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PHASE 1 | GYMNASIUM | 14,000 FT2, PEMB-framed athletics area housing (2) full-size basketball courts and a running track WITH the option to add an additional 7,000 FT2 structure housing (3) pickleball courts.
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PHASE 2 | INT. RENOVATIONS| 4,250 FT2 renovation of existing footprint that added (7) offices, 2 group restrooms, and a vestibule.
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PHASE 3 | COMPETITION POOL | 11,500 FT2 competition pool equipped with (10) 25-yard lap lanes for high school swim meets.
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PHASE 4 | FITNESS CENTER | 2,200 FT2 weight-room connected to existing cardio spaces and new Gymnasium.
Phasing Diagram - Axonometric
GYMNASIUM
GYMNASIUM
This 14,000 square-foot PEMB structure is built directly from the Eastern Elevation of the Recreation Center. It flanks the cardio space and administration offices.
The use of charred wood siding, fieldstone veneer, and black fascia helps marry it with the existing exterior. Bright, high-grain wood paneling is a constant in all phases and the exterior structure.
Once the Fitness Center is completed, the gap between Gymnasium and the existing will be closed off with a flat face and undulating rooflines.
At the interior, green-painted structure and running track, rich Tongue-n-Groove ceilings, and kelly-green Wall Padding help to soften the voluminous austere space that a PEMB structure creates.
At the roadside elevation, the pitched and pentagonal profile of the Fieldhouse is framed with charred wood siding that helps announce its purpose to passing drivers on the road.
Phasing Diagram - Plan & Traffic Paths
FITNESS SPACE
WEIGHT ROOM
This 2,200 square-foot steel-framed structure is built between the existing, double-high recreation pool space and the new Gymnasium. It is primarily accessed through the existing Cardio space with a secondary entrance from the Gymnasium.
A full bank of windows permits views into the Gymnasium and out to the heavily-wooded grounds before Bergen Parkway.
Exposed structure, HVAC equipment and ceiling fans, and fitness equipment are all dark-hued steel and aluminum selected to match the tone of tree trunks visible through the windows.
Resilient gym floor tiling, wooden accents and vinyl graphics help to soften the rough edges of the exposed steel.
COMPETITION POOL
VIEW POOL EXPANSION
CONCEPT DESIGN - PRIOR TO VALUE ENGINEERING
When originally meeting with the Parks and Recreation team, the project scope included 14,000 square-feet, of which included:
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A dedicated entry for swimmers and re-using main building entry for spectators
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New Locker and Shower rooms for both genders
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An upper level Spectating platform + Rooftop plaza for between events
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A warm-up and queuing area for swimmers
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A water-side swimming and diving platform
None of these made it to the current design; however, they are present in the conceptual Renders and plans. Both renders and the sketch show a double-high volume that houses the spectators platform and in terms of the renders, an additional skybridge connecting to the main building entry.
Both designs feature large, mono-slope shingled roof planes that permitted varying degrees of interior volumes and light infiltration. Angled and slender fenestrations at the end-walls help the structure stand out as a sporting venue.
Deep roof overhangs and porticos allow for protected operable overhead doors. This level of 'openness' allows for swimming events and event attendees to spill outdoors and to the Lake and exterior swimming platform, should the weather permit.
Timber roof-kickers, stone wainscot, and vertical wood siding help the Pool blend in seamlessly with the existing structure.
ACTUAL DESIGN - AFTER VALUE ENGINEERING
Ultimately, Value Engineering exercises severely curbed the project scope and expectations, reducing overall size from 14,000 square-feet down to 11,500 square-feet. Ultimately, many items were stripped away, leaving a barebones Competition pool with a restroom, showers, and lifeguard office.
Roof profiles were simplified immensely to reduce the total volume needing conditioning. Dedicated entries and locker rooms were removed in their entirety and focus was shifted towards connecting to and utilizing existing facilities. Swimmers and spectators alike must enter through the Primary entrance at the level above and access the new competition pool through the existing recreational pool.
The driving factor behind these scope reductions was ultimately the price of excavation and backfill. Soils reports found that bedrock was less than a foot beneath grade and require blasting to dislodge and remove. This drove up site-work costs exponentially.
FACILITIES
In order to properly support the addition of a new Gymnasium, Fitness Space, and Competition pool, invasive modifications to the existing building was required. Chief amongst these was the higher demand for restroom fixtures and a dedicated Administration area to manage these varying activities.
Space Plan - Phasing and Design Concepts
SUPPORT SPACES
The primary concern was providing enough support spaces to prevent overstraining the existing restrooms and administration capabilities. Thus, an under-utilized Game Room was converted into new restrooms that provided a code-required (5) toilet fixtures to match the addition of Gymnasium and weight room.
Administration offices were reconfigured to allow seamless entry through the cardio space into the weight room and gymnasium. An existing office was retrofitted to become the primary reception and check-in space for the Competition pool.
Dedicated offices were designed for the existing Baby Sitting suite. An entry Vestibule and new Lounge were added to increase occupant comfort.