The Exelon Gymnasium provides Rowe Clark Math & Science Academy with its first high-school-caliber facility for athletics, physical education, assemblies and community events. The infill project replaced a series of orphaned lots littered with debris, providing a critical component of student life while unifying the urban fabric of the entire city block. The parking lot, which is constructed with permeable concrete pavers, serves as an extension of the remaining alley, allowing residents to traverse the block. A garden planted along the vine-covered south facade flanks the parking lot.
The ceiling of the gymnasium is comprised of 24 light-reflective coffers crowned by a skylight. In order to avoid shadows on the court, the glass in each skylight is filled with an aerogel that insulates and diffuses the light. A clerestory window above the top of the bleachers allows a view to the northern sky. Opposite the bleachers, a 22-foot-wide projection screen, augmented by speakers recessed into the ceiling, can host multimedia presentations.
Sustainable strategies in the project include a green roof, a super-insulated envelope with high internal thermal mass, diffuse daylighting and heat recovery ventilation. The gym and the school share a sophisticated lighting control system that utilizes occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting technology to save energy.
Clarence-Rockland Arena, Event and Training Centre
