| Relationships with stakeholders was established through an extensive community engagement process that emphasized communication, open dialogue and cooperative decision making. Over 20 meetings with community groups were held to gather feedback on the planning and design. In addition to providing input on the functional aspects of the planning, the following design attributes were identified as priorities: a positive image of the facility from Fair Oaks, a welcoming and well-defined entry, open and airy central lobby and incorporation of natural light.
To achieve the established design priorities, it was essential to emphasize the lobby with an entry canopy cantilevered from its transparent volume and accented by the convergence of varying exterior materials. The street facing elevation maintains simple geometry and allows for more transparency to emphasize its connected nature to the community. These large spans of windows were treated with sun shading devices which enhances the building scale. The lobby is flanked by the multi-purpose room to the south and the fitness and dance rooms to the north. The lobby serves as its central circulation spine, connecting the addition with the existing gym and allowing natural light to penetrate the building with its high volume and clerestory windows.
The project site at Robinson Park is within the context of non-descript commercial buildings of modest scale. The overall building massing is reflective of functional programs. The simple geometry of the building is layered with window composition that enhances building scale and creates a balanced proportion with rhythm, texture and color.
Along Fair Oaks, old and new structures maintain a warm, light neutral palette (beige, tan, taupe and warm greys) accented by terra cotta, brick or red clay. Stucco, stone, concrete masonry and brick are prevalent materials in the immediate surroundings. The exterior finishes and color palette of this project work with the existing materials and finishes of the neighborhood, with added consideration for durability and ease of maintenance.
The seismic retrofit of the existing gym, built in 1974, included underpinning existing foundation underlain by uncertified fill and adding new shear paneling at exterior walls. The foundation work utilized a conventional A-B slot-cut method. The entire structure was stripped of existing, deteriorated wood siding and new plywood shear paneling was added prior to re-skinning the entire structure. The reskin updated the exterior and integrated with the design of the new addition. The retrofit work had to be completed along the sides connected to the new addition prior to the construction of the addition.
There were many unknowns encountered during construction due to incomplete as-built documentation. Discoveries during demolition included large/thick sections of concrete in what was believed to be an old courtyard area and undocumented existing utilities that required research to determine their source, redesign of new drain and sewer POC’s and new foundations. Another challenge was the prominent Oak Tree at the Fair Oaks entrance which is protected by City and State laws. Our team had to creatively design the building and landscape/hardscape from design through construction. |
