Landscape / Community

1st Place Winner

Project:

Firstenburg Community Center

Firm:

Opsis Architecture

503.525.9511

http://www.opsisarch.com

Size:

80,000 sf

Budget:

$16,900,000

Contractor:

Berschauer Phillips Construction

Architect:

Opsis Architecture

Interior Designer:

Opsis Architecture

Landscape:

JD Walsh Associates

Mechanical Engineer:

Stantec

Situated on a 10-acre parcel, the Firstenburg Community Center straddles two distinct worlds: a developing commercial street with strip malls and a verdant residential neighborhood. The east Vancouver, Washington, facility has two primary components: a single-level community wing and a vast recreational area with lofted ceilings. The community wing, which houses an indoor aquatic playground, acts as a protective park environment buffered from traffic noise and east winds. Its expansive windows allow for exceptional natural light and cross-ventilation. An Ipe rain screen encloses the spaces, connecting the facility to the surrounding landscape. The wing’s communal space includes a child care area, a resource room, lounges, and meeting rooms.

The adjacent two-story recreational area contains dance studios, fitness rooms, a two-court gymnasium, and a large leisure pool. The structure’s roof opens up to the south and slopes to the north, again optimizing ventilation and light. Draped in corrugated zinc-alum, its exterior has an organic feel that complements the building’s exposed wood, while its wavy roofline echoes the contours of the forest. It effectively serves as a backdrop to the community wing and connects the recreation pool to the courtyard and aquatic playground.

From its recycling of pool water to its use of natural light, the 90,000-square-foot facility is more energy efficient than typical buildings of its size, earning it a LEED Gold certification. Large, healthy trees on the grounds of the community center were preserved, while sickly, weak trees were broken down and integrated back into the building as siding. Recycled and renewable resources such as bamboo and wheatboard are used in benches, door frames, and wall paneling—helping to create a facility that is as light on the land as it is rich for the community.

- Amy Purcell