The center provides a state-of-the-art facility to promote health and fitness within the community, while also assisting in the recruitment and retention of students. Flanked by a pine grove, the center sits in what was the footprint of tennis courts and provides a view of a nearby mountain range.
In order to maximize flexibility while minimizing structural impacts on the environment and reducing costs, the building was designed with clear-span, glue-laminated wood beams and a deep-span metal deck structural system. Functional spaces are organized around a circulation spine that is flooded with natural light through a continuous clerestory. Major components include a front desk, a climbing wall, an open fitness area, offices, meeting rooms and a full-court gymnasium. The spine creates a lively social setting, while generous sightlines remove physical and psychological barriers between spaces. The second level features two dance studios that are reached from a balcony overlooking the fitness area. The realistic-looking climbing wall intersects this space and extends from the floor to the roof, as if the building were built around a natural rock outcropping.
Following sustainable design tenets, the site and placement of the building were chosen specifically to be responsive to the natural environment; building materials were chosen for high functionality and low maintenance; fritted glass was used to assist in controlling room temperatures; and energy-efficient fixtures were incorporated.
Dickey-Stephens Ballpark
