Hamilton Indoor Recreation Center

Moscow, ID
Construction Cost: $2.78 million
Area / Square Feet: 21,000
Occupancy Date: May 2004

The existing architectural language established by an adjacent aquatic center and the perimeter residential neighborhoods influenced the architectural character of the Hamilton Indoor Recreation Center. Sloped roof forms similar to those of the aquatic center are offset, lending natural light through clerestory windows into all occupied spaces. Composed of a CMU base and plank siding, exterior walls break down the scale of the building and complement materials seen both in the surrounding neighborhoods and on the aquatic center.

The lower mass of the main entry and lobby serves as a critical orientation knuckle, linking opposing roof forms and physically adjoining the information and concessions spaces while establishing visual connections to the multipurpose room and gymnasium entries. The multipurpose room anchors the building?s west side with a transparent facade opening up to the aquatic center?s picnic area.

The simplicity of the exterior form is revealed on the interior of the building with glulam beams and columns extending through the exterior wall ? exposing the structure in both environments, organizing and providing scale in the large volumes, and serving as lobby orientation markers that lead patrons into vaulted destination spaces.