When the residents of the Williston Parks & Recreation District elected to build a new recreation center, they did not realize just how much of an impact this new facility would have on recreational activities for its fast-growing community. Careful planning helped ensure visitors could navigate the sheer scale of the building and allowed operators to easily monitor activity spaces. A nearly 500-foot-long, two-story, curved wood wall links all activity spaces in a grand hall and provides navigation cues to visitors. The large wood wall has also prompted residents to refer to the building by its acronym, the Williston ARC, recalling the hull of the Biblical boat.
The building’s exterior combines the use of regional stone, metal panels and extensive windows to present a modern appearance to this progressive building.
The most prominent feature on this facade is the large indoor aquatic center with a slide that passes outside the building. The natatorium contains a 50-meter competition pool with bleacher seating and is capable of hosting state competitions. Visitors can enjoy the four-foot-deep instructional pool, as well as benches strategically placed into the low depth. The pool decks spill into an outdoor patio space on the southern half of the building, giving the overall complex an active and transparent aesthetic.
Williston Area Recreation Center