Carriage Club is a private tennis, swimming, ice sports and social club in the heart of Kansas City. Conceived as a progressive landmark on the historic Tencap Tennis campus, the pavilion embraces design elements that are often nontraditional for a country club setting.
Situated on 6.6 acres, the club was designed as a reaction to the site constraints and original court placement. With a goal of blending the campus’s historic architecture into the new facility, a variety of materials were applied in a modern form. Consistent with the progressive nature of the facility, clear-span design was embraced using cross-laminated timber in a singular gesture that embodies warmth and richness. The pavilion includes a pro shop, a central hub for tennis staff, lounge seating anchored by food and beverage, locker rooms, and support spaces for laundry and stringing. The bustling tennis facility includes eight hard-surface, two clay and two paddle courts.
Ample, operable glass and a variety of interior and exterior seat groupings afford elevated views to every court in the complex while embodying hospitality. Breaking traditional norms, an outdoor covered and heated patio, complete with an exterior bar, allows for social gatherings in the winter months, when the paddle is king. The elevated floor positions the facility to serve as a viewing platform and suggests passage to the surrounding trails and landscapes on the campus.
Judge's Comments
“The designers made an efficient footprint feel dynamic at every turn. All the corners and leftover spaces became great little viewing areas and patios.” — Steve Chung
“A well-crafted and thoughtful plan solution results in a small architectural gem hidden within the courts.” — William Schenck
Cedardale Health + Fitness