Stephen SpringsStephen Springs, FAIA, is a senior principal at Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects in Dallas, Texas.Outdoor FieldsFive Practical Strategies to Incorporate Public Art into a Rec Center or ParkBack in the 1960s, a piece of playground equipment dubbed the “Rocket” was erected at Heights Park in Richardson, Texas. The sleek and towering replica of a rocket — with four levels of steel bars punctuated with a bright red nosecone, fins and a slide —January 28, 2019AquaticsBathhouse Confidential: How to Ensure Return VisitsAlthough some outdoor pool facilities have been closed since Labor Day, outdoor aquatic centers in many warm-weather states remain open longer. Critical to the success of any outdoor pool facility is the bathhouse — which typically is the first structureNovember 26, 2018Rec CenterGreen Is Good: Making Your Pool More SustainableToday, with “going green” now commonly recognized as a verb for being environmentally engaged and sustainability savvy, making your pool as green as possible is the goal.October 8, 2018Rec CenterRFQs 101: Six Dos and Dont's for the ProcessIn two previous posts, I wrote about best practices for submitting requests for qualifications from architectural firms and for interviewing the firms with which you’re most interested in working.August 13, 2018OperationsRFQs 101: How to Interview Architecture FirmsIn a previous post, I wrote about 10 elements every request for qualifications should include and offered suggestions to help your RFQ stand out and become a priority project for architecture firms.July 16, 2018ProgrammingThree Public Recreation Projects You Might Not Have ConsideredAs new public recreation facilities in communities from coast to coast continue to open their doors, leaders in some locales might want to consider something a little different for their constituents.April 3, 2018FacilitiesWhen Planning for the Future, Don’t Forget About the PresentI recently was reminded at a project-planning kick-off meeting that pieces of the design and building process we architects consider core elements often are not seen that way by the facility operators and their staff members with whom we’re working. Far fMarch 19, 2018Rec CenterMake 2018 the Year You Finally Convert Those Old Racquetball CourtsThe viability of racquetball courts in recreation centers has long been a topic of conversation — and often a bone of contention. Granted, some facilities — such as Prairie Athletic Club in Sun Prairie, Wis. — have managed to make racquetball relevant agaJanuary 31, 2018AquaticsBuilding a Pool Facility? Read This FirstWhat are the keys to successfully partnering with multiple design firms on an aquatics project?December 4, 2017Rec CenterBlog: Bridging the Generation Gap in Your Rec CenterIf you’ve been following my series of posts about factors that are changing the form and function of recreation centers, you’ll recall I’ve covered the importance of holistic planning, the impact of sharing spaces and the drive for self-sufficiency.March 15, 2017Previous PagePage 2 of 3Next PageTop StoriesAB ShowAB Show 2025 Sessions & Workshops Are Now LiveFrom athletics and fitness to recreation and beyond, our sessions and workshops are designed to equip you with the tools you need to elevate your programs and facilities...PersonnelArkansas Latest to Trim Significant Percentage of Athletics StaffLegalJim Harbaugh Added to Hacking Lawsuit Against Former Michigan AssistantSafety & SecurityFlorida, Vermont Pass Laws Aimed at Cardiac Safety for HS AthletesSponsored ContentA Renovated Home for the Cleveland Guardians and Their Management
![[Heights Family Aquatic Center Bathhouse]](https://img.athleticbusiness.com/files/base/abmedia/all/image/2018/11/ab.Bathhouses_Heights%20Recreation%20and%20Family%20Aquatic%20Centers_Richardson%20Texas%201.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
![[Collin County Adventure Camp - Image courtesy BSW Architects]](https://img.athleticbusiness.com/files/base/abmedia/all/image/2018/04/ab.Ed%20ext%201.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
![When planning a new facility, don't forget the present [Image courtesy Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects]](https://img.athleticbusiness.com/files/base/abmedia/all/image/2018/03/ab.Screen%20Shot%202018-03-19%20at%209.31.21%20AM.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
![Converting a racquetball space can pay dividends for your rec center [Image courtesy Brinkley Sargent Wiginton].](https://img.athleticbusiness.com/files/base/abmedia/all/image/2018/01/ab.Racquetball%20Graphic.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
![How will the influence of different generations influence design? [Photo by Shutterstock]](https://img.athleticbusiness.com/files/base/abmedia/all/image/2017/03/ab.Screen%20Shot%202017-03-15%20at%209.41.00%20AM.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&bg=fff&dpr=2&fill-color=fff&fit=fill&h=167&pad=5&q=70&w=250)
