The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center (Green Bay, WI)

Green Bay, Wis.
Construction Cost: $22 million
Area / Square Feet: 130,000
Occupancy Date: August 2011

The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center's interlocking three-part design embodies the three primary components of the facility's mission statement — to strengthen, enrich and encourage the lives of children, adults, families and seniors with positive, life-changing experiences. The development of the facility considered all ages and abilities, as well as sensitivity to local ecology and regional history.

From the exterior, the center's three wings are independently defined by diverse combinations of locally produced cut stone, brick and metal panel. A solid base of burnished concrete masonry unifies the various design elements. The visible structure of concrete masonry units serves to unify the exterior aesthetic expression with the building’s interior.

The regular proportions and regimented fenestration pattern of the gymnasium, fitness center and aquatic center offer views into these areas from the play fields and exterior paths, and from inside the building, along the Gallery Main Street. Deftly balanced between the two dynamic wings, the community space's interiors offer rooms specifically tailored to their target audiences.

The iconic steeple and clerestory bathe the chapel interior in soft daylight, while the south narthex window washes the narthex in light filtered through an etched wall of glass at the rear of the chapel. These various daylighting strategies imbue the chapel with different lighting effects throughout the day, enriching the spiritual qualities of the space.