C.V. Starr Community Center and Sigrid & Harry Spath Aquatic Center

Fort Bragg, Calif.
Construction Cost: $18.6 million
Area / Square Feet: 41,800
Occupancy Date: August 2009

This community center and aquatic facility for California’s Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District will be constructed in three phases. Phases I and II were completed in August 2009 and include a natatorium with an eight-lane, 25-yard competition pool; a recreational/leisure pool; a waterslide and splashdown pool; men’s and women’s locker rooms, and family changing rooms; a fitness center; multipurpose rooms and an aerobics studio; a lounge; and administrative offices. Phase III will include a gymnasium, meeting/classrooms, a catering kitchen and an arts and crafts room.

The aquatics center is sited such that the natatorium gable end is centered on Maple Street, the main approach leading up to the project entry. The stained exterior cement- board siding, gray standing-seam metal roofs and building massing blend with the community context. The natatorium roof is located on the south side, sloping down toward the nearby middle school. The other building forms then step down to the north with a pyramidal standing-seam metal roof marking the entry, which features large translucent skylights over the public areas within the dry activity area of the building.

The center’s functional planning maximizes staff efficiency and functionality, allowing the staff to easily supervise both the aquatic areas and the dry activity areas. The swimming pools are designed with multiple activity areas to promote maximum utilization while minimizing the staff necessary to fully guard the facility.