Eastway Regional Recreation Center

The Eastway Regional Recreation Center is the first of three new community recreation facilities in Mecklenburg County, N.C. Through a series of engagement meetings with local residents, the design team prioritized both a design sense of energy and excitement, as well as a clear connection to the history and cultural relevance of the Charlotte region.

The exterior of the building is angular and dynamic, reaching upward to reflect movement and kinetic energy. The brick is treated with layers and textures to reinforce a sense of energy at the pedestrian scale, and windows are treated with brightly colored frames to add contrast and interest. The entry is scaled to communicate invitation, reinforced on the interior where the central connector acts as a high-volume view shed to the many social, community and activity spaces that define the program.

Muted colors and wood tones reflect the history of a region deeply rooted in agriculture and textile manufacturing. The undulating lobby ceiling picks up on the rolling landscapes that evoke the natural terrain of local farms, while a wood veil beyond the reception desk is accented with colors that reflect regional textile creations. This entry volume spans the width of the building and organizes the main program elements — with communal and social spaces that include a teaching kitchen, a nature center, a senior center and a sound mixing room on one side, and active spaces such as the fitness zone, gym and pool spaces on the other.