University of California, Santa Barbara -
Recreation Center Expansion
Santa Barbara, CA
Year in Showcase: 2007
Project Description
Responsive to its site" and
"extremely well-integrated."
So spoke the judges about the
expansion to the University of California,
Santa Barbara Recreation Center, which
joined an existing recreation and aquatics
complex to enclose a 9.5-acre landscaped
compound.
The building’s orientation and
stepped massing maintain views to the
distant mountains and preserve existing
live oak trees and a historic eucalyptus
grove. The expansion is divided into
an academic wing, with spaces linked
by a covered tile-walled walkway, and
an activity wing featuring a multipurpose
activities court, a 30-foot climbing
wall and locker rooms. A fitness room
transitions the scale between the two
wings.
The judges responded positively to
the building inside and out, noting the
exterior’s response to the distant Santa
Ynez Mountains, as well as the interior’s
sophisticated use of materials that
include heavy timber framing, maple
wall panels and glass walls. Special
mention was made of sustainable features,
such as operable windows that passively
ventilate more than 90 percent of the
building, which were incorporated into
highly functional recreation spaces.
Judges' Comments
Even though the facility is very large, the
scale is broken down to a comfortable
perception of size. The plan within
demonstrates a great circulation pattern
and is very easy to understand.
— John Linstaedt
The colors and texture of the exterior
reinforce the coastal landscape and
the building seems to grow from its
surroundings.
— Tom Betti
An interesting layered solution to a
multifunction recreation/academic
program.
— David Body
Project Details
Architect of Record: Sasaki Associates Inc. - San Francisco, Calif.
Funded By: Student fees
Major Facility Components: Multipurpose activities court, climbing
wall, fitness room, locker rooms, classroom,
offices, pottery studio
Construction Cost: $12.15 million
Square Feet: 52,820
Occupancy: May 2005
Vendors
Basketball Backboards/Supports:
Porter Athletic Equipment Co.
Climbing Walls:
Entre Prises USA Climbing Walls
Court Panels/Glass:
A Best Enterprises Inc.
Dashers:
Sport Systems Unlimited Corp.
Elliptical Equipment:
Matrix Fitness Systems
Exercise Balls:
Power Systems Inc.
Flooring:
Dal-Tile Corp.
Flooring, Fitness Center:
Everlast Performance Flooring
Free Weight Equipment:
Hampton Fitness Products Ltd.
Lockers:
Fortress Locker Systems IHFS
Rowers:
Concept2 Inc.
Scoreboards/Timing Systems:
Daktronics Inc.
Shower/Toilet Partitions:
Comtec Industries
Stair Climbers:
Nautilus Inc.
Stationary Bikes:
Life Fitness
Strength Equipment:
Atlantis Inc.
Strength Equipment:
Paramount Fitness Corp.
Surface:
Sport Court International
Surfaces, Basketball:
Sport Court International
Swimsuit Dryer:
Extractor Corp.
Treadmills:
Matrix Fitness Systems
Volleyball Nets and Standards:
Spalding
