This project was planned using a broad-based community involvement study that began in 2000. Program solutions were devised and presented in every incorporated town in Kent County. Addressing each town resulted in a well-defined and widely supported plan for a multigenerational community center.
The project consists of a main building, a pool and support buildings, two new athletic fields and upgrades to existing baseball and softball fields. The main building plan is simply organized around a central access point and a single corridor that connects all activity spaces, including those for organized sports, group exercise, after-school activities and meetings. The pool was designed with several zones and depths to allow for diverse yet concurrent pool activities, providing a family-friendly pool experience for all ages and ability levels. It includes a wading pool with beach entry, a lap pool, a diving well and a kids’ play area.
Masonry, clapboard siding and shed roofs are used throughout the project to reflect the aesthetic of the simple agrarian buildings and structures that are common throughout the Eastern Shore. The flat-roofed masonry horizontal element that runs east to west divides the massing into several zones based on function and serves as a visual entryway to the pool and community center, as well as provides for a centrally located mechanical system, eliminating the need for equipment on the roof or ground.
Burleson Recreation Center (BRiCk)
