The conversion of the former Stapleton International Airport site into a new mixed-use development has transformed eastern Denver into a vibrant area rich in activity. The center of this new community is the 100-acre Central Park and its full-service recreation center.
As the newest and largest recreation center in the Denver system, the LEED Gold-certified Central Park Recreation Center is intended as a model for future facilities within the system. Locating the 56,940-square-foot facility between the park and residential neighborhoods required finesse; the building footprint is situated to allow the adjacent park to extend across the entry plaza’s upper level.
Every major space within the building is showered in natural light, but through careful orientation and strategic shading, direct glare is minimized. The building's open floor plan allows borrowed light to permeate the facility. Spaces also are connected vertically with large floor openings, incorporating vertical circulation and allowing light to filter between floors — leaving few areas that require artificial light during daytime hours.
Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre
