Oak Park Community Recreation Center Oak Park, Ill.

Project Description:

In a community with equity, inclusivity and sustainability as core values, this new 42,000-square-foot recreation and community center holistically supports Oak Park, a community just outside Chicago, and is an anchor for future revitalization of the area. The center provides areas for fitness, community gatherings, mental health support and after school programming on an urban site.

The design expresses much of its program along the active street to the north, encouraging membership and inclusion while taking advantage of indirect light. Upon entering the facility, the large bright-yellow elevator core that runs through the main lobby greets visitors with a sign that says, “Hello & welcome.” The lobby is a three-story atrium with views into the many rooms and areas. It’s a space to gather, see all the opportunity within the building, and feel like one belongs.

The multipurpose center features a fitness center, an indoor gym, a walking track and community meeting rooms. A child watch area helps single or busy parents find time for their own health, while providing a safe and creative space to engage Oak Park’s littlest residents. Free after school programs for students, new offices of the Community Mental Health Board that provide in-take and referral services, and an esports lounge were among the specific recommendations from teenagers – part of the community vision. The community embraced the integration of inclusive bathrooms, locker rooms and a lactation room that collectively provide for people of all ages, genders and needs.

Designed as a net-zero building, triple-paned glazing helps meet that goal. Arrays of photovoltaics on the roof, the south facade, and a canopy on the adjacent parking lot generate enough energy to exceed the building’s demands.