The Bruce and Graciela Redwine Student Recreation Center combines a student recreation program with the expanded campus health center to create an overall health and wellness facility. Activity spaces include a two-court multipurpose gymnasium, a large fitness center, aerobics/dance studios and a suspended walking/jogging track. The project is part of a larger development of outdoor recreation, including sand volleyball courts, a recreational pool and spa, and walking/jogging trails.
The building is pulled up tight to the main parkway to create a strong presence and to maximize an associated recreation site development to the south. This use of the oddly shaped site, previously thought to be unbuildable by the university, turned out to be an efficient way to utilize the existing property and maximize use of the adjacent parking areas so that only limited additional parking was required. This helped preserve open recreation space.
The plan is organized around two entries, each affording something of a personal connection to the health center and main recreation center. The north and south facades of the facility are fenestrated to maximize “controllable” natural daylight to all the main interior spaces, and consequently offer strong visual connection to the core of the campus to the north. In addition to promoting a strong visual connection, the architecture is organic to the overall university’s traditional vernacular of stone arches, ceramic tile roofs and limestone detailing, which helps reinforce the overall sense of place.
Yawkey Sports Training Center
