Waunakee Village Center

Waunakee, WI
Construction Cost: $6.7 million
Area / Square Feet: 44,970
Occupancy Date: March 2006

The Village of Waunakee, a 10,000-resident suburb of Madison, was struggling with an overcrowded senior center and a growing recreation department that lacked interior programming space. After an extensive five-year planning process and more than 100 public meetings, a space was created with the flexibility to serve the varied needs of all of Waunakee's residents.

The senior center remains a main component of the design, providing everything from meal service to space for social services and health screenings. The gymnasium accommodates basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer and is open to local youth sports teams and community organizations. A fitness center includes a variety of cardio and strength equipment, as well as personal training and fitness instruction services.

From the outset, designers were challenged to create a facility that reflects the community’s architectural aesthetic and thus makes users feel at home. Trusses that span the lobby resemble the arched WPA bridges of the Village Park, and the same stonework found in the park’s picnic shelter adorns the Village Center. The columnar windows mirror those in many downtown buildings. All finishes were selected with durability and ease of maintenance in mind.