Building for Wellness: The New Era of Community Recreation Design

Over the years, our understanding of what truly makes a person healthy has evolved. Once focused primarily on the physical, we now know that mental well-being and social interaction play a significant role in an individual's health. Communities flourish when residents have access to the tools and information they need to lead happier, more active lives.

This new understanding of what today we call wellness is beginning to inform every aspect of society, and that includes the built environment. For municipal leaders wishing to enhance the lives of their citizens by promoting wellness, there is perhaps no greater opportunity than by rethinking a space that is almost as traditional as the town square or city hall — the community recreational center.

In cities and towns throughout the country, forward-looking leaders are transforming rec centers into wellness centers. In its earliest iteration, the community rec center was mainly focused on providing publicly available space for park agencies and community organizations to hold activities. Today, these spaces are designed to be more purposeful and versatile, with the goal of not just accommodating wellness, but actively promoting it for everyone.

Using wellness to build bridges

A wellness center is a place that welcomes people of all ages, from all walks of life. In doing so, the building's design promotes interaction across social and demographic divisions. As centers of wellness, these facilities offer fitness equipment and instruction, activities that promote mental health and good nutrition, and classes that teach life skills that will allow residents to live fuller and more productive lives.

The modern rec center is not a one-size-fits-all facility that can be replicated and installed in any neighborhood or town where there is a need. It is essential that the process of developing a wellness center begins with an extensive Master Planning process in which a vision is established that is supported by objectives and goals. This is a highly collaborative and broadly inclusive activity that should be led by a team that specializes in this type of facility, and can offer best practices and lessons from previous successful projects in cities both large and small throughout the country.

The planning effort aims to include municipal and community leaders, residents, staff and other area stakeholders who can lend insight and expertise. It is highly suggested that, in addition to identifying current needs and desires, that the vision extends into the future to anticipate evolving or emerging needs over a three-to-five-year period.

The result of the Master Plan will spell out exactly what type of activities and programming the rec center seeks to accommodate. This will allow the project team to design the space to facilitate the present needs, while also building in versatility and flexibility to transform the space in the future. The ability to extend the useful life of a building by making it adaptable to future needs is one of the surest ways to maximize the cost-benefit value of the venture.

A holistically lucrative and attainable investment

When it comes to investing in a modern wellness center, one of the preconceived notions that must be dispelled is that they are only feasible in wealthy communities. The fact is — these types of facilities can flourish almost anywhere with the right commitment and an open mindset.

The ability to identify and successfully obtain grants is one mechanism for moving such projects along. When the approach effectively conveys the value of the project to the community, the public may even approve a temporary rate or tax increase, or bond referendum, to provide the necessary revenue. One aspect of funding that is almost universal is that residents will be much more likely to rally around the cause if the project focuses on the health and wellbeing of children. Providing our youth with the resources needed to thrive is a desire that cuts across all demographics and regions.

An experienced project team will be able to identify opportunities to make the project more affordable. Many municipalities have found success in repurposing abandoned office or manufacturing buildings. Transforming existing structures offers significant cost benefits but will often require more creativity and ingenuity than new construction. One Illinois town came into possession of four adjacent buildings when a local mill shut down. Through innovative design solutions, these industrial structures were transformed to become both user-friendly and aesthetically cohesive.

It is not uncommon, especially in cases where existing buildings are acquired, for a municipality to have more square footage than needed to fulfill their mission. This opens up a great deal of opportunity in terms of partnerships with other agencies or organizations. Space can be leased for summer camps, early education programs or even private businesses catering to health and wellness. In one community, an agreement was struck with the local library system to use part of the center as a branch location. This solution helped the underfunded library continue its mission, while providing additional revenue to the agency operating the rec center.

Using the physical to improve the personal

While vision, funding and community support are all critical to a successful wellness center, the role design plays in the process cannot be overstated. From creating spaces that are warm and welcoming, to including elements that reflect the community's history, culture and values — arriving at the right design will play a major role in how the center is received and the level to which it is utilized.

The physical design also plays a role in promoting wellness. Biophilia, the use of natural elements such as wood, water and vegetation, has been proven to have a positive effect on health and wellbeing. It also serves to connect people to the environment and the benefits of engaging in a more sustainable lifestyle. Designing interior spaces with natural light through skylights, glass walls and large windows creates a feeling of warmth and safety that people find comforting, particularly those with neurodivergent conditions.

Incorporating exterior program elements immediately adjacent to indoor facilities is increasingly popular in wellness center design. Another positive trend is better utilization of exterior spaces. In addition to trails, playgrounds, and athletic courts — outdoor amenities traditionally included at rec centers — outdoor spaces can be used for cardio and weight training, yoga classes and presentations. Even in regions that experience harsher weather in the winter months, these types of facilities will generally enjoy a level of year-round usage that makes them practical to include. One key to maximizing usage is making these outdoor facilities visible from the lobby and common areas to encourage visitors to venture outdoors.

The shift to wellness

The shift to wellness is not a trend, but an accepted understanding of what a person really needs to live a happier, healthier life. A carefully conceived and well-designed wellness center can be a tremendous asset both to the individuals it serves, and to the community where they live — one that will serve everyone for many decades. Throughout the country, cities and towns are having great success in using these facilities to promote social engagement and introduce programs and activities that bring real and positive change to their residents. And the process of envisioning and building that type of future is as exciting as it is fulfilling.

Daniel Atilano, RA, LEED AP recently retired from FGM Architects. John C. Dzarnowski, AIA, is CEO and chairman of the board of FGM Architects. He can be reached at [email protected].