To serve a rapidly growing area of the city, the Raleigh Parks and Recreation department partnered with Clark Nexsen design the new, health-focused Abbotts Creek Community Center. The healthy living themed facility houses a high bay gymnasium space with supporting classrooms, fitness spaces, and staff space. Complimentary outdoor athletic and fitness spaces are also included.
The bow-trussed gym supports full-size basketball and volleyball courts, and also offers cross-courts for basketball. Support spaces consist of a multi-purpose room, associated kitchen, storage, office, and classroom to serve tracked-out students who are enrolled in year-round programs in nearby Wake County schools. A studio and fitness center, as well as spaces for staff offices and a lobby, round out the main program elements. The facility also includes shower and locker facilities, and has achieved LEED Silver certification.
The construction of the building is a structural steel frame with envelope construction consisting of a ground-face CMU veneer and metal panels. The upper level of the gymnasium has insulated fiberglass sandwich panels with a clear insulated vision glass system. The lobby contains curtain wall construction with perforated metal screening. The building orientation maximizes daylighting on the northern and southern façades.
The site is a joint-use site in conjunction with Wake County Public Schools and Wake County Parks. It is located on the former borrow site for the now decommissioned Wake County landfill, and is part of a larger Wake County park that is master planned for the area. Construction of two multi-purpose fields are included with the community center in Phase One of the project. Future phases include construction of an additional multi-purpose field, baseball and softball fields, and a skate park.
Awards
AIA South Atlantic Region Merit Award, 2019
AIA North Carolina Merit Award, 2018
Sir Walter Raleigh Community Award, 2017
