The Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness encompasses both extensive alterations to an antiquated practice gym and a major addition to the 9,000-seat Robins Center basketball arena. The mission was to create an inviting student recreation center that has a distinct and separate identity from the adjacent varsity athletic facility.
Exterior design focused on defining a visually strong entry that collects pedestrians entering from adjacent residence halls and off-campus users entering from an existing parking lot. To provide appropriate scale and identity, a gently arching peristyle structure was employed to connect the wings of an L-shaped building footprint dictated by site constraints. Additionally, the large gym and fitness spaces were detailed with expansive areas of glass curtain wall. The design creates a simple background to the prominent entry, while also providing abundant daylight, visual transparency to interior activities and views from interior gym and fitness spaces to a new courtyard entrance.
From the central lobby, staff and participants have views of, and easy access to, the surrounding activity areas including the natatorium, gymnasium and upper-level fitness center. Staff offices and workspaces have been strategically located throughout the building to provide views of the activity areas for supervision as well as security.
Orange Coast College Fitness Complex
