Kittery Community Center at Frisbee Common

Kittery, ME
Construction Cost: $5.1 million
Area / Square Feet: 37,350
Occupancy Date: June 2012

The goal of Kittery Community Center at Frisbee Common was for its grounds and facilities to create a modern-day New England common for the town, while serving multigenerational constituents. The project involved the reuse of a former school, coupled with construction of a new 10,350-square-foot gymnasium. The center’s programming includes youth and teen programs, arts and crafts, a dance/aerobics studio, fitness rooms, a multipurpose/performance space, a preschool, a senior center and recreation department offices.

The floor plan is zoned such that preschool students and parents have a distinct and safe area for their activity, and seniors have their own entry. In addition, areas of the building can be closed off for evening and weekend events in the performance space or in the gymnasium. The reception area is located centrally to help greet and direct users and visitors, and doubles as a café and intermission space for events. Existing infrastructure was used as much as possible. The original maple floor in the former

gym/cafeteria was found under multiple layers of flooring and refinished for another 20 years of use.

The new gymnasium addition was placed at the rear of the site so as not to block or compete with the existing front elevation of the old school. In setting the gym massing apart from the original structure, a new entrance and café area were created.