The Center of Recreational Excellence (CORE) in Hobbs, N.M., provides year-round indoor recreational amenities, including opportunities for social interaction, learning, fun and fitness for residents of Lea County. The CORE is the result of a unique partnership between the City of Hobbs, Lea County, New Mexico Junior College, Hobbs Municipal Schools, the University of the Southwest and the JF Maddox Foundation.
The innovative design includes leisure and competition aquatics, an indoor therapy pool, a multipurpose room, meeting spaces, indoor soccer space, a multi-activity court (MAC) gym, a fitness center, a jogging track, a large indoor children’s play structure and many other community amenities.
Three large boxes for the turf field, MAC gym and aquatic center are organized around a central atrium space, which includes a children’s playground, a ramped jogging track circuit and a fitness area. The centripetal central space and circulation arms radiate from the center. These arms are open, bright and filled with natural light. Users are welcomed by and drawn into these spaces with visual and physical connection. Arcs of limestone walls extend from the interior to the surrounding landscape.
Athens Outdoor Pool
