Northern Regional Recreation Center Cornelius, N.C.

Project Description:

The towns of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville came together to design a community recreation center in Mecklenburg County, N.C. Architects worked with the three town mayors, town commissioners, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation officials, as well as school district representatives, environmental groups and other stakeholders from Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville to design a shared community center that reflected the values and unique identities of each town. Ultimately, the goal was to ensure the facility felt like “home” for each town represented.

Architects designed an extensive community outreach process to hear from current townspeople about their values and desires for a new facility. The resulting site master plan and building design includes a multisport gymnasium, two health/wellness/fitness centers, a walking/jogging track, an indoor leisure pool, an eight-lane indoor competition pool, community meeting rooms, classrooms, dedicated active adult spaces, a child watch area, administrative offices, a kitchen, a greenhouse, a nature play meadow, a picnic shelter, a community garden and parking.

During the feasibility phase, the architectural team provided multiple design options to facilitate a decision regarding the preferred siting of the building within the 41-acre site. Ultimately, the client preferred to place the building close to the highway for greater visibility. Glass facades with exciting views into the aquatics portion of the facility draw the interest of passersby and greet patrons as they enter the site.