Firstenburg Community Center
Vancouver, WA
Year in Showcase: 2007
Project Description
Located on a 10-acre parcel featuring
a remnant, second-growth forest
of 80-year-old Douglas firs, the
Firstenburg Community Center represents
“a tour de force of sustainability,” as one
panelist put it. The center’s one-story
community wing features places for
group activities and socializing organized
along a main circulation spine. Upstairs,
a glass-encased exercise pavilion forms
an entrance loggia that, at night, functions
as an illuminated billboard of activity.
Behind, the high-bay recreation volume
houses the gymnasium and natatorium,
and features an undulating roofline that
optimizes natural ventilation and echoes
the contour of the surrounding forest.
The recreation wing’s corrugated zincaluminum
exterior further complements
the dark backdrop of trees.
In pursuit of LEED® Gold certification,
designers employed numerous greenbuilding
strategies, including the
specification of recycled and renewable
materials such as bamboo and wheatboard.
While the site’s significant tree
stands were preserved, diseased or
weak trees were milled and re-integrated
into the project. Thus, exposed wood
finishes not only bear a distinctly
regional character, they also create a
direct connection to the site.
Judges' Comments
The exterior expression masterfully plays
simple solid and transparent surfaces
against each other, not only articulating
the interior function but also providing a
restrained energy to the building.
— Tom Betti
Excellent use of green materials and a
solid, sustainable approach to recreation
facilities.
— Dave Hammel
The daylighting and layering of space is
quite beautiful, and the level of integration
of sustainable features demonstrates that
sustainable design can be successfully
applied to public recreation projects.
— Tom Scarlata
Project Details
Architect of Record: Opsis Architecture; Portland, Ore.
Aquatic Design Engineer
: Water Technology Inc. - Beaver Dam, Wis.
Programming/Operational Consultant
: The Sports Management Group - Berkeley, Calif.
Funded By: Bonds, private donations,
state grants
Major Facility Components: Gymnasium,
fitness center, climbing wall, natatorium,
classrooms, meeting rooms, lounge
Construction Cost: $17 million
Square Feet: 80,000
Occupancy: February 2006
Vendors
Basketball Backboards/Supports:
Jaypro Sports LLC
Chemical Control Systems:
Siemens Water Technologies
Climbing Walls:
Entre Prises USA Climbing Walls
Divider Curtains:
Jaypro Sports LLC
Elliptical Equipment:
Nautilus Inc.
Exercise Balls:
Thera-Band Products/Hygenic Corp.
Filters:
Neptune-Benson Inc.
Flooring:
Dal-Tile Corp.
Flooring, Aerobics:
Connor Sports Flooring
Flooring, Fitness Center:
Mondo
Folding Chairs:
Mity-Lite Inc.
Free Weight Equipment:
Iron Grip Barbell Co.
Handicapped Equipment:
Spectrum Aquatics
Ladders/Grab Bars:
Paragon Aquatics, Div. of Pentair
Lighting:
Day-Brite Capri Omega
Lockers:
American Accessories Inc.
Rehabilitation/Testing Units:
MicroFit Inc.
Sanitization Systems:
Arch Chemicals Inc.
Scoreboard/Timing Systems:
Daktronics Inc.
Scoreboards/Timing Systems:
Daktronics Inc.
Shower/Toilet Partitions:
Global Steel Products
Skylights:
Structures Unlimited Inc.
Strength Equipment:
Nautilus Inc.
Surfaces, Basketball:
Connor Sports Flooring
Surfaces, Track:
Mondo
Swimsuit Dryer:
Extractor Corp.
Treadmills:
Nautilus Inc.
Volleyball Nets and Standards:
Jaypro Sports LLC
Wall Padding:
Promats Inc.
Water Play Features:
Empex Watertoys
Water Play Features:
WhiteWater West Industries Ltd.
