Architect : Neighboring Concepts
Design Architect : Sasaki
Aquatic Consultant : Counsilman-Hunsaker
Total Construction Cost : $35 M
Square Feet : 95,000
Project Description:
The Eastway Regional Recreation Center is the first of three new community recreation facilities to serve Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. Through a series of engagement meetings with local residents, the design team prioritized both a sense of energy and excitement that needed to be expressive in the design, as well as a clear connection to the history and cultural relevance of the Charlotte region.
The exterior of the building is angular and dynamic, reaching upward to reflect a sense of movement and kinetic energy. The brick is treated with layers and textures to reinforce a sense of energy at the pedestrian scale, and windows are treated with brightly colored frames to add contrast and interest. The entry is scaled to amplify a sense of invitation that is reinforced once inside, where the central connector acts as a high-volume view shed to the many program-defining social, community and activity spaces.
The undulating lobby ceiling picks up on the rolling landscapes that evoke the natural terrain of local farms, while a wood veil beyond the reception desk is accented with colors that reflect regional textile creations. This entry volume stretches from one side of the building to the other, organizing the main program elements with communal and social spaces such as a teaching kitchen, a nature center, a senior center and a sound mixing room on one side, with active spaces such as the fitness zone, gym and pool spaces on the other.
Ultimately, the design team had one goal — to ensure that anyone entering the building feels welcome and has a clear sense of how they can engage with it.
